healing

a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged

verb (used with object)

to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment.

to bring to an end or conclusion, as conflicts between people or groups, usually with the strong implication of restoring former amity; settle; reconcile: They tried to heal the rift between them but were unsuccessful.

to free from evil; cleanse; purify: to heal the soul.

verb (used without object)

to effect a cure.

(of a wound, broken bone, etc.) to become whole or sound; mend; get well (often followed by up or over ).

Origin:
before 900; Middle English helen, Old English hǣlan (cognate with Dutch helen, German heilen, Old Norse heila, Gothic hailjan), derivative of hāl hale¹, whole

Related forms

heal·a·ble, adjective

half-healed, adjective

pre·heal, verb (used with object)

un·heal·a·ble, adjective

un·healed, adjective

well-healed, adjective

Can be confused: heal, heel, he'll.

Synonyms
1. See cure. 2. compose, soothe. 3. purge, disinfect.

Antonyms
1, 2. irritate. 3. soil, infect.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To Healing

Collins

World English Dictionary

heal (hiːl)

—vb
1.	to restore or be restored to health
2.	(intr; often foll by over or up) (of a wound, burn, etc) to repair by natural processes, as by scar formation
3.	(tr)
	a. to treat (a wound, etc) by assisting in its natural repair
	b. to cure (a disease or disorder)
4.	to restore or be restored to friendly relations, harmony, etc

[Old English hælan; related to Old Norse heila, Gothic hailjan, Old High German heilen; see hale¹, whole]

'healable

—*adj*

'healer

—n

'healing

—n, —*adj*

heal (hiːl)

—vb
1.	to restore or be restored to health
2.	(intr; often foll by over or up) (of a wound, burn, etc) to repair by natural processes, as by scar formation
3.	(tr)
	a. to treat (a wound, etc) by assisting in its natural repair
	b. to cure (a disease or disorder)
4.	to restore or be restored to friendly relations, harmony, etc

[Old English hælan; related to Old Norse heila, Gothic hailjan, Old High German heilen; see hale¹, whole]

'healable

—*adj*

'healer

—n

'healing

—n, —*adj*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

heal

O.E. hælan "make whole, sound and well," from P.Gmc. *khailaz (cf. O.S. helian, O.N. heila, O.Fris. hela, Du. heelen, Ger. heilen), lit. "to make whole," which is also the source of O.E. hal (see health). Heal-all as a native word for "panacea" is attested from 1577;

applied to various plants since 1853.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

heal (hēl)
v. healed, heal·ing, heals

To restore to health or soundness; cure.
To become well; return to sound health.

Example sentences

They did another bone scan, and they can tell it is not healing.

Others struggle with a healing process that remains painful, drawn out, and

elusive.

Her bladder was still healing, though, and she would have to wear a catheter

for a few days longer.

Mineral pools on the lake are purported to have healing properties because of

their high sulphur content.

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Matching Quote

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body."

-unknown author