embalm
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All three words relate to keeping something from decaying, but they apply in very different contexts. 'Preserve' is the broadest term — you can preserve food in a jar, preserve a historical document, or preserve a body through any method (freezing, chemicals, drying). 'Mummify' refers specifically to drying a body to prevent decay, most famously practiced in ancient Egypt through the use of natron salts and wrappings. 'Cure' is used for food only — especially meat or fish preserved by salting, smoking, or drying (e.g., cured ham). 'Embalm' is the narrowest and most technical: it describes the modern practice of injecting chemical preservatives into a dead body, typically to delay decomposition long enough for a funeral.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'embalm' entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'embaumer', meaning 'to preserve with spices or balm'. The French word came from 'baume' ('balm'), which traces back through Latin 'balsamum' to Greek 'balsamon' — a fragrant resin used in ancient burial practices. So the word's original sense was literally 'to apply balm or aromatic spices to a body'.