1. Ointment used to help heal wounds or reduce how painful they are. By extension, anything used to soothe or aid in healing hurt feelings, social unrest, etc.
2. 'Salve' is the imperative (command) form of the Latin verb 'salveo' (infinitive: 'salvere').
'Salvere' means "to be well / healthy," so 'salve' literally means "Be well."
It was commonly used as a greeting and as a way of saying "goodbye" in the ancient Roman Empire. Later, in Latin-using parts of the
Christian Church (continuing to
the present in the
Catholic Church), it has been used in exalting important figures, as in "Salve Regina" (Hail, Queen) addressed to Jesus's mother, Mary.
In ancient Latin, as used in the Roman Empire, it was pronounced "sahl-way." In "Church Latin" and sung Latin, derived from medieval Latin, it is pronounced "sahl-vay."
1.
The Marshall Plan served as a powerful salve to
European economies damaged in the
second World War.
2. Salve puella annorum octoginta. Bene sit tibi cum tuo calvitio. (Greetings, eighty-year-old girl. May you be well with your little, bald head.)
-- Sample sentence illustrating the use of 'salve' from Erasmus, *Colloquies.*
