salve
UK: sælv | US: sælv
n. a soothing ointment or remedy for wounds or skin irritation
vt. to soothe or heal with a salve; to ease emotional distress
The word "salve" traces back to Latin salvare (to save, heal), which also gave rise to "salvation" and "save." In Old English, it was borrowed as sealf, referring to a healing ointment. Over time, the spelling evolved to "salve," retaining its core meaning of healing or soothing—both physically (as a noun) and metaphorically (as a verb). The silent "e" is a common feature in English nouns derived from Latin.
She applied a herbal salve to the burn to reduce inflammation.
His kind words salved her wounded pride after the criticism.
The pharmacist recommended a medicated salve for the rash.
Ancient cultures often used honey as a natural salve for injuries.
Time alone cannot salve the pain of such a deep loss.