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Webster 1913 Edition


Balm

Balm

(bäm)
,
Noun.
[OE.
baume
, OF.
bausme
,
basme
, F.
baume
, L.
balsamum
balsam, from Gr.
βάλσαμον
; perhaps of Semitic origin; cf. Heb.
bāsām
. Cf.
Balsam
.]
1.
(Bot.)
An aromatic plant of the genus
Melissa
.
2.
The resinous and aromatic exudation of certain trees or shrubs.
Dryden.
3.
Any fragrant ointment.
Shak.
4.
Anything that heals or that mitigates pain.
Balm for each ill.”
Mrs. Hemans.
Balm cricket
(Zool.)
,
the European cicada.
Tennyson.
Balm of Gilead
(Bot.)
,
a small evergreen African and Asiatic tree of the terebinthine family (
Balsamodendron Gileadense
). Its leaves yield, when bruised, a strong aromatic scent; and from this tree is obtained the balm of Gilead of the shops, or balsam of Mecca. This has a yellowish or greenish color, a warm, bitterish, aromatic taste, and a fragrant smell. It is valued as an unguent and cosmetic by the Turks. The fragrant herb
Dracocephalum Canariense
is familiarly called balm of Gilead, and so are the American trees,
Populus balsamifera
, variety
candicans
(balsam poplar), and
Abies balsamea
(balsam fir).

Balm

,
Verb.
T.
To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.
Hence:
To soothe; to mitigate.
[Archaic]
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition


Balm

B'ALM

,
Noun.
bam.
1.
The sap or juice of trees or shrubs remarkable odoriferous or aromatic.
2.
Any fragrant or valuable ointment.
3.
Anything which heals, or which soothes or mitigates pain.
4.
In botany, the name of several plants, particularly of the genus Melissa. They are aromatic and used as corroborants.
Balm of Gilead. A plant of the genus Amyris. Its leaves yield, when bruised, a strong aromatic scent; and from this plant is obtained the balm of Gilead of the shops, or balsam of Mecca or of Syria. It has a yellowish or greenish color, a warm bitterish aromatic taste, and an acidulous fragrant smell. It is valued as an odoriferous unguent, and cosmetic, by the Turks, who possess the country of its growth, and hence it is adulterated for market.

B'ALM

,
Verb.
T.
To anoint with balm, or with any thing medicinal.
2.
To soothe; to mitigate; to assuage.

Definition 2024


balm

balm

English

Noun

balm (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. A plant or tree yielding such substance.
  3. Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one.
    There is a balm in Gilead.... (Spiritual)
  4. (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 520624543, 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).]
  5. Any of various aromatic plants of the genus Melissa, such as lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) or bee balm.

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Verb

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

  1. (archaic) To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.
  2. (figuratively) To soothe; to mitigate.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

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