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embalm
CIDE DICTIONARY
embalm, v. t. [F. embaumer; pref. em- (L. in) + baume balm. See Balm.].
- 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. [1913 Webster]"Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm /is father; and the physicians embalmed Israel." [1913 Webster]
- To fill or imbue with sweet odor; to perfume. [1913 Webster]"With fresh dews embalmed the earth." [1913 Webster]
- To preserve from decay or oblivion as if with balm; to perpetuate in remembrance. [1913 Webster]"Those tears eternal that embalm the dead." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
embalm, v.tr.
1 preserve (a corpse) from decay orig. with spices, now by means of arterial injection.
2 preserve from oblivion.
3 endue with balmy fragrance.
1 preserve (a corpse) from decay orig. with spices, now by means of arterial injection.
2 preserve from oblivion.
3 endue with balmy fragrance.
Derivative
embalmer n. embalmment n.
Etymology
ME f. OF embaumer (as EN-(1), BALM)
DEVIL DICTIONARY
embalm
v.i. To cheat vegetation by locking up the gases upon which it feeds. By embalming their dead and thereby deranging the natural balance between animal and vegetable life, the Egyptians made their once fertile and populous country barren and incapable of supporting more than a meagre crew. The modern metallic burial casket is a step in the same direction, and many a dead man who ought now to be ornamenting his neighbor's lawn as a tree, or enriching his table as a bunch of radishes, is doomed to a long inutility. We shall get him after awhile if we are spared, but in the meantime the violet and rose are languishing for a nibble at his _glutoeus maximus_.THESAURUS
embalm
anhydrate, aromatize, blast-freeze, brine, cense, corn, cure, dehydrate, desiccate, dry, dry-cure, dry-salt, eternalize, eternize, evaporate, freeze, freeze-dry, fume, fumigate, immortalize, incense, irradiate, jerk, keep alive, keep fresh, kipper, lay out, lie in state, marinade, marinate, monumentalize, mummify, odorize, perennialize, perfume, perpetuate, pickle, preservatize, preserve, preserve from oblivion, quick-freeze, refrigerate, salt, scent, season, smoke, smoke-cure, stuff, thurifyROGET THESAURUS
embalm
Preservation
VB preserve, maintain, keep, sustain, support, hold, keep up, keep alive, refrigerate, keep on ice, not willingly let die, bank up, nurse, save, rescue, be safe, make safe, take care of, guard, stare super antiquas vias, hold one's own, hold one's ground, stand one's ground, embalm, cure, salt, pickle, season, kyanize, bottle, pot, tin, can, sterilize, pasteurize, radiate, dry, lyophilize, freeze- dry, concentrate, evaporate, freeze, quick-freeze, deep-freeze, husband.Interment
VB inter, bury, lay in the grave, consign to the grave, lay in the tomb, entomb, in tomb, inhume, lay out, perform a funeral, embalm, mummify, toll the knell, put to bed with a shovel, inurn, exhume, disinter, unearth.Fragrance
VB be fragrant, have a perfume, smell sweet, scent, perfume, embalm.For further exploring for "embalm" in Webster Dictionary Online