Embalming

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to
              embalm ?is father; and the physicians embalmed
              Israel.                               --Gem. l. 2.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To fill or imbue with sweet odor; to perfume.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              With fresh dews embalmed the earth.   --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To preserve from decay or oblivion as if with balm; to
        perpetuate in remembrance.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Those tears eternal that embalm the dead. --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  30 Moby Thesaurus words for "embalming":
     anhydration, blast-freezing, bottling, brining, canning, corning,
     curing, dehydration, desiccation, dry-curing, drying, embalmment,
     evaporation, freeze-drying, freezing, fuming, irradiation, jerking,
     marination, mummification, pickling, potting, quick-freezing,
     refrigeration, salting, seasoning, smoking, stuffing, taxidermy,
     tinning
  
  

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Embalming
     the process of preserving a body by means of aromatics (Gen.
     50:2, 3, 26). This art was practised by the Egyptians from the
     earliest times, and there brought to great perfection. This
     custom probably originated in the belief in the future reunion
     of the soul with the body. The process became more and more
     complicated, and to such perfection was it carried that bodies
     embalmed thousands of years ago are preserved to the present day
     in the numberless mummies that have been discovered in Egypt.
     
       The embalming of Jacob and Joseph was according to the
     Egyptian custom, which was partially followed by the Jews (2
     Chr. 16:14), as in the case of king Asa, and of our Lord (John
     19:39, 40; Luke 23:56; 24:1). (See {PHARAOH}.)