Wiktionary

balm

English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English bawme, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French baume, from Old French basme, from Latin balsamum, itself from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon). Spelling modified 16th c. to conform to Latin etymology. Doublet of balsam.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

balm (countable and uncountable, plural balms)

  1. Any of various aromatic resins exuded from certain plants, especially trees of the genus Commiphora of Africa, Arabia and India and Myroxylon of South America.
  2. An aromatic preparation for embalming the dead.
  3. A plant or tree yielding such substance.
  4. Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one.
  5. (figuratively) Something soothing.
    Classical music is a sweet balm for our sorrows.
    • 1781, [Mostyn John Armstrong], History and Antiquities of the County of Norfolk. Volume IX. Containing the Hundreds of Smithdon, Taverham, Tunstead, Walsham, and Wayland, volume IX, Norwich: Printed by J. Crouse, for M. Booth, bookseller, →OCLC, page 51:
      BEAT on, proud billows; Boreas blow; / Swell, curled waves, high as Jove's roof; / Your incivility doth ſhow, / That innocence is tempeſt proof; / Though ſurly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm; / Then ſtrike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm. [Attributed to Roger L'Estrange (1616–1704).]
  6. The lemon balm, Melissa officinalis
  7. Any of a number of other aromatic herbs with a similar citrus-like scent, such as bee balm and horsebalm.

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

  • → Welsh: balm

Translations edit

sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from some plants — see balsam
plant or tree yielding such substance — see balsam
soothing lotion — see balsam
figurative: something soothing — see balsam

Verb edit

balm (third-person singular simple present balms, present participle balming, simple past and past participle balmed)

  1. (transitive, archaic) To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.
  2. (transitive, figurative) To soothe; to mitigate.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Hall, Joseph Sargent (1942 March 2) “3. The Consonants”, in The Phonetics of Great Smoky Mountain Speech (American Speech: Reprints and Monographs; 4), New York: King's Crown Press, →DOI, →ISBN, § 11, page 104.

Anagrams edit

Welsh edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from English balm.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

balm m (plural balmau)

  1. lemon balm

Mutation edit

Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal aspirate
balm falm malm unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading edit

  • R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “balm”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
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