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embalm - 6 dictionary results

em⋅balm

  [em-bahm]
Use embalm in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to treat (a dead body) so as to preserve it, as with chemicals, drugs, or balsams.
2. to preserve from oblivion; keep in memory: his deeds embalmed in the hearts of his disciples.
3. to cause to remain unchanged; prevent the development of.
4. to impart a balmy fragrance to.
Origin:
1300–50; ME embalmen, embaumen < OF emba(u)smer, equiv. to em- em- 1 + -ba(u)smer, v. deriv. of ba(u)sme balm

Related forms:
em⋅balm⋅er, noun
em⋅balm⋅ment, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To embalm
em·balm   (ěm-bäm')   
tr.v.   em·balmed, em·balm·ing, em·balms
  1. To treat (a corpse) with preservatives in order to prevent decay.
  2. To protect from change or oblivion; preserve or fix: "A precedent embalms a principle" (Benjamin Disraeli).
  3. To impart fragrance to; perfume: Spicy aromas embalmed the air.

[Middle English embaumen, from Old French embasmer : en-, in; see en-1 + basme, balm; see balm.]
em·balm'er n., em·balm'ment n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Embalm

Em*balm"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embalmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Embalming.] [F. embaumer; pref. em- (L. in) + baume balm. See Balm.]

1. To anoint all over with balm; especially, to preserve from decay by means of balm or other aromatic oils, or spices; to fill or impregnate (a dead body), with aromatics and drugs that it may resist putrefaction.

Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm ?is father; and the physicians embalmed Israel. --Gem. l. 2.

2. To fill or imbue with sweet odor; to perfume.

With fresh dews embalmed the earth. --Milton.

3. To preserve from decay or oblivion as if with balm; to perpetuate in remembrance.

Those tears eternal that embalm the dead. --Pope.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : embalm
Spanish: embalsamar,
German: einbalsamieren,
Japanese: 防腐保存する
More Translations »

embalm 
c.1340, from O.Fr. embaumer "preserve (a corpse) with spices," from en- "cause to be" + baume "balm" (see balm) + -er verbal suffix. The -l- inserted in Eng. 1500s in imitation of L.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: em·balm
Pronunciation: im-'bä(l)m, NewEng also -'bom
Function: transitive verb
: to treat (a dead body) so as to protect fromdecay —em·balm·er noun —em·balm·ment /-'bä(l)m-m&nt/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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embalm em·balm (ěm-bäm')
v. em·balmed, em·balm·ing, em·balms
To treat a corpse with preservatives in order to prevent decay.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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