salve
UK[sælv]US[sælv]
n
a medicated ointment used to soothe or heal the skin or a sore.
v
to soothe or heal with or as if with a salve; to ease or alleviate (mental distress or a feeling of guilt).
Etymology
the word "salve" entered english in the old english period, borrowed directly from the latin "salve," a greeting meaning "be well." this latin term is derived from the verb "salvere" (to be in good health), which itself can be traced back to the proto-indo-european root sol-, meaning "whole, well-kept." the semantic journey from a spoken wish for health to a physical healing ointment is a classic example of metonymy, where the thing that promotes wellness comes to bear the name of the wellness wish itself. over time, its application broadened metaphorically to include the soothing of non-physical wounds, such as conscience or emotion.
Analysis
the entire word "salve" functions as a simplex unit. it is a loanword from latin, where "salve" was the imperative form of the verb "salvere," meaning "to be well, to be in good health." its functional role in english is as a noun or verb.
Examples
she applied a herbal salve to the insect bite to reduce the itching.
his kind words did little to salve her wounded pride after the defeat.
the apology was a salve to his guilty conscience.