salve

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
salve1

▶noun

• 1 an ointment used to promote healing of the skin or as protection.

• 2 something that soothes wounded feelings or an uneasy conscience.

▶verb

• 1 soothe.

• 2 archaic apply a salve to (the skin).

– origin OE sealfe (n.), sealfian (v.), of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
salve2

▶verb archaic term for salvage.

– derivatives
salvable adjective.

– origin C18: back-form. from salvage.