%balm%

n. [ OE. baume, OF. bausme, basme, F. baume, L. balsamum balsam, from Gr. ba`lsamon; perhaps of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. bāsām. Cf. Balsam. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus Melissa. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The resinous and aromatic exudation of certain trees or shrubs. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any fragrant ointment. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Anything that heals or that mitigates pain. “Balm for each ill.” Mrs. Hemans. [ 1913 Webster ]

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). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Balm + -fy. ] To render balmy. [ Obs. ] Cheyne. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a balmy manner. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Balmoral Castle, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. ] 1. A long woolen petticoat, worn immediately under the dress. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A kind of stout walking shoe, laced in front. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man who uses his balmorals to tread on your toes. George Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having the qualities of balm; odoriferous; aromatic; assuaging; soothing; refreshing; mild; as, balmy weather. “The balmy breeze.” Tickell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep! Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Producing balm. “The balmy tree.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Highly eccentric or crazy. [ Informal ]
Syn. -- batty. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- Fragrant; sweet-scented; odorous; spicy; refreshing; soothing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a perennial herb (Monarda fistulosa) of North America. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. a perennial aromatic herb of eastern North America (Monarda didyma) having variously colored tubular flowers in dense showy heads.
Syn. -- bee balm, bergamot mint, oswego tea. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. a bushy perennial Old World mint, Melissa officinalis, having small white or yellowish flowers and fragrant lemon-flavored leaves; a garden escapee in northern Europe and North America.
Syn. -- lemon balm, garden balm, sweet balm, bee balm, Melissa officinalis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Embalmed p. pr. & vb. n. Embalming. ] [ F. embaumer; pref. em- (L. in) + baume balm. See Balm. ] 1. To anoint all over with balm; especially, to preserve from decay by means of balm or other aromatic oils, or spices; to fill or impregnate (a dead body), with aromatics and drugs that it may resist putrefaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm &unr_;is father; and the physicians embalmed Israel. Gem. l. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fill or imbue with sweet odor; to perfume. [ 1913 Webster ]

With fresh dews embalmed the earth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To preserve from decay or oblivion as if with balm; to perpetuate in remembrance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those tears eternal that embalm the dead. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who embalms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. embaumement. ] The act of embalming. [ R. ] Malone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. See Embalm. [ 1913 Webster ]