balsam

Alternative forms

• balsem, balsum, balsome

Etymology

From Middle English *balsam, balsme, from Old English balsam, balsamum (“balsam, balm”), from Latin balsamum, from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon, “balsam”), of Semitic origin (Hebrew בושם‎ (“spice, perfume”)). Doublet of balm.

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: bôlʹsəm, IPA^(key): /ˈbɔːlsəm/

Noun

balsam (countable and uncountable, plural balsams)

1. (chiefly Britain) A sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from various plants.
2. (chiefly Britain) A plant or tree yielding such substance.
3. (chiefly Britain) A soothing ointment.
4. (chiefly Britain, figuratively) Something soothing.

   Classical music is a sweet balsam for our sorrows

5. A flowering plant of the genus Impatiens.
6. The balsam family of flowering plants (Balsaminaceae), which includes Impatiens and Hydrocera.
7. A balsam fir Abies balsamea.
8. Canada balsam, a turpentine obtained from the resin of balsam fir.

Verb

balsam (third-person singular simple present balsams, present participle balsaming, simple past and past participle balsamed)

1. (transitive) To treat or anoint with balsam.

Anagrams

• lambas, sambal

Etymology

From Old Irish balsam(m), balsaim(e), from Latin balsamum, from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon).

Noun

balsam m (genitive singular balsaim)

1. (medicine) balsam, balm
2. balsam (plant)

Mutation

Further reading

• "balsam" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
• “balsam(m), balsaim(e)” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.

Etymology

From Old Polish balsam or balszam, from Latin balsamum, from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon, “balsam”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbal.sam/

• audio

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Noun

balsam m inan

1. (technical) balsam (“a sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from various plants”)
2. (cosmetics, medicine, pharmacology) lotion (“a low-viscosity topical preparation intended for application to skin”)
3. (historical) a substance used in thanatopraxy (“embalming of corpses”), specifically any substance used for this practice in Ancient Egypt.
4. (figuratively) balsam (“something soothing”)

Further reading

• balsam in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Etymology

From Latin balsamum. Appears since 17th century. Probably entered Romanian through multiple routes, with the most common form from Italian balsamo, or through use in old medicinal practice. A now archaic variant form valsam derived from Greek βάλσαμο (válsamo). Cf. also German Balsam.^[1]

Noun

balsam n (plural balsamuri)

1. balsam (clarification of this definition is needed)
2. unction, balm, salve, unguent

References