Etymograph

English

salve

Salve comes from Middle English salve ‘a salve’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *selp-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*selp-‘salve, ointment’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*solp-éh₂reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*salbō‘salve, ointment’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*salbu‘salve, ointment’reconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150sealf‘ointment, salve’
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500salve‘a salve’
  7. Englishearliest quotation 2025salve

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*selp-‘salve, ointment’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*solp-éh₂reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*salbō‘salve, ointment’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*salbu‘salve, ointment’reconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150sealf‘ointment, salve’
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500salve‘a salve’
  7. Englishearliest quotation 2025salve

Earliest quotation: 2025, Tame March PCE inflation no salve after downbeat Q1 US GDP r: “[Title:] Tame March PCE inflation no salve after downbeat…”

Linked words

through Middle English salve ‘a salve’

self

Another origin of salve

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*selp-‘fat, oil’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*solp-éh₂reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*salbō‘salve, ointment’reconstructed
  4. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*salbōną‘to salve, to anoint’reconstructed
  5. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*salbōn‘to salve, anoint’reconstructed
  6. Old Englishc. 450–1150sealfian‘to anoint, apply a salve’
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500salven‘to anoint or salve’
  8. Englishtodaysalve

Another origin of salve

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsalvē‘hail!, hello!, welcome!’
  2. Englishtodaysalve

The verb is from the interjection.

Today it means

noun An ointment, cream, or balm with soothing, healing, or calming effects.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *selp- / salve

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