embalm

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
embalm /ɪmˈbɑːm, ɛm-/

▶verb

• 1 preserve (a corpse) from decay, originally with spices and now usually by injection of a preservative.

  ■ preserve in an unaltered state.

• 2 archaic give a pleasant fragrance to.

– derivatives
embalmer noun,
embalmment noun.

– origin ME: from OFr. embaumer, from em- ‘in’ + baume ‘balm’, var. of basme (see balm).