Latin scholars

[Tilly2]

What does the word salvete mean?
balm? peace? welcome?

[mike11111]

Literally "be healthy" - used as a greeting so welcome is the nearest translation.

[MarkRae]

It's the plural form of 'salve' and means, more or less, "Hello". It's the root of the French "salût".

[Tilly2]

Thank you both.

[mike11111]

Since when did "salut" acquire a circumflex?

[MarkRae]

Apologies.

[Tilly2]

What about the expression 'to salve one's conscience'? Or have I dreamt that? Or is it another word?

[DTCwordfan]

salved, salv·ing, salves
1. To soothe or heal with or as if with salve.
2. To ease the distress or agitation of; assuage: salved my conscience by apologising.
[Middle English, from Old English sealf.]

[mike11111]

The same root, Salvus, meaning safe or sound so you haven't been dreaming.

[MarkRae]

Two meanings, two etymologies.

Salve, as a noun, comes from Old English.
Salve, as a verb, comes from Latin.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/salve#English

[Tilly2]

Thank you to the three of you.

[heathfield]

As a by-the-way, 'Save' and 'safe' are also from the same Latin root.