n. [ AS. sealf ointment; akin to LG. salwe, D. zalve, zalf, OHG. salba, Dan. salve, Sw. salfva, Goth. salbōn to anoint, and probably to Gr. (Hesychius) &unr_; oil, &unr_; butter, Skr. sarpis clarified butter. √155, 291. ] 1. An adhesive composition or substance to be applied to wounds or sores; a healing ointment. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A soothing remedy or antidote. [ 1913 Webster ]

Counsel or consolation we may bring.
Salve to thy sores. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Salve bug (Zool.), a large, stout isopod crustacean (Aega psora), parasitic on the halibut and codfish, -- used by fishermen in the preparation of a salve. It becomes about two inches in length. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Salved p. pr. & vb. n. Salving. ] [ AS. sealfian to anoint. See Salve, n. ] 1. To heal by applications or medicaments; to cure by remedial treatment; to apply salve to; as, to salve a wound. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To heal; to remedy; to cure; to make good; to soothe, as with an ointment, especially by some device, trick, or quibble; to gloss over. [ 1913 Webster ]

But Ebranck salved both their infamies
With noble deeds. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

What may we do, then, to salve this seeming inconsistence? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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v. t. To say “Salve” to; to greet; to salute. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

By this that stranger knight in presence came,
And goodly salved them. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ See Salvage ] To save, as a ship or goods, from the perils of the sea. [ Recent ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖interj. [ L., hail, God save you, imperat. of salvere to be well. Cf. Salvo a volley. ] Hail! [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who salves, or uses salve as a remedy; hence, a quacksalver, or quack. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Salvage. ] A salvor. Skeat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. salva pregustation, the tasting of viands before they are served, salver, fr. salvar to save, to taste, to prove the food or drink of nobles, from L. salvare to save. See Save. ] A tray or waiter on which anything is presented. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Tubular, with a spreading border. See Hypocraterimorphous. [ 1913 Webster ]