Dear Latin Teacher,
Could you please tell me whether the English noun salve (as in eye salve) comes from the same root as the word salvation? Or if not, is it from another Latin root, or maybe another language?
Thank you
Dear Anonymous,
I'm afraid that salve is not from the same Latin root as salvation. In fact, salve is not from Latin at all, but rather from Old English. It is apparently from a root in Sanskrit, sarpis, meaning melted butter.
Salvation is from Latin: salvatio means a saving.
Hope this helps, and thanks for asking a Latin teacher.
Sincerely,
John
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