BALM
from
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
balm
n 1: any of various aromatic resinous substances used for
healing and soothing
2: semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied
externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation [syn:
{ointment}, {unction}, {unguent}, {balm}, {salve}]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Balm \Balm\ (b[aum]m), n. [OE. baume, OF. bausme, basme, F.
baume, L. balsamum balsam, from Gr. ba`lsamon; perhaps of
Semitic origin; cf. Heb. b[=a]s[=a]m. 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]
from
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Balm
contracted from Bal'sam, a general name for many oily or
resinous substances which flow or trickle from certain trees or
plants when an incision is made through the bark.
(1.) This word occurs in the Authorized Version (Gen. 37:25;
43:11; Jer. 8:22; 46:11; 51:8; Ezek. 27:17) as the rendering of
the Hebrew word _tsori_ or _tseri_, which denotes the gum of a
tree growing in Gilead (q.v.), which is very precious. It was
celebrated for its medicinal qualities, and was circulated as an
article of merchandise by Arab and Phoenician merchants. The
shrub so named was highly valued, and was almost peculiar to
Palestine. In the time of Josephus it was cultivated in the
neighbourhood of Jericho and the Dead Sea. There is an Arab
tradition that the tree yielding this balm was brought by the
queen of Sheba as a present to Solomon, and that he planted it
in his gardens at Jericho.
(2.) There is another Hebrew word, _basam_ or _bosem_, from
which our word "balsam," as well as the corresponding Greek
balsamon, is derived. It is rendered "spice" (Cant. 5:1, 13;
6:2; margin of Revised Version, "balsam;" Ex. 35:28; 1 Kings
10:10), and denotes fragrance in general. _Basam_ also denotes
the true balsam-plant, a native of South Arabia (Cant. l.c.).
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
172 Moby Thesaurus words for "balm":
Mentholatum, Vaseline, aid, allay, alleviative, alleviator,
alterative, ambergris, ambrosia, analeptic, anodyne, aroma,
aromatic, aromatic gum, aromatic water, assistance, assuager,
attar, attar of roses, balm of Gilead, balsam, bay oil,
bergamot oil, bouquet, brilliantine, calmative, cerate,
champaca oil, chrism, civet, cold cream, collyrium, comfort,
commiseration, compose, condolement, condolence, consolation,
corrective, cream, cure, cushion, demulcent, dolorifuge, drops,
drug, electuary, elixir, embrocation, emollient, essence,
essential oil, ethical drug, extract, eye-lotion, eyewash,
eyewater, face cream, fixative, generic name, glycerin, glycerogel,
glycerogelatin, glycerol, glycerole, hand lotion, healing agent,
healing quality, heliotrope, help, herbs, incense, inhalant,
inunction, inunctum, jasmine oil, lanolin, lavender oil, lenitive,
lincture, linctus, liniment, lotion, lull, materia medica,
medicament, medication, medicinal, medicinal herbs, medicine,
menthol, mercurial ointment, mitigator, mixture, moderator,
modulator, mollifier, musk, myrcia oil, myrrh, nard,
nonprescription drug, officinal, oil, ointment, olive oil,
pacificator, pacifier, palliative, parfum, patent medicine,
peacemaker, perfume, perfumery, petrolatum, pharmacon, physic,
pomade, pomatum, powder, preparation, prescription,
prescription drug, proprietary, proprietary medicine,
proprietary name, quiet, quieten, receipt, recipe, redolence,
relief, remedial measure, remedy, restorative, restraining hand,
rose oil, salve, scent, sedative, settle, sharing of grief,
shock absorber, simples, soothe, soother, soothing syrup,
soothing words, sovereign remedy, specific, specific remedy, spice,
spikenard, stabilizer, still, succor, sympathy, syrup, temperer,
theraputant, tisane, tranquilize, tranquilizer, unction, unguent,
unguentum, vegetable remedies, volatile oil, vulnerary, wiser head,
witch hazel, zinc ointment
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