George A. Parks
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Aromatic ointments and fragrances are the bomb. They are also, literally, balms: healing substances and soothing scents with the power to ease both mind and body. The original balm, what Latin-speakers referred to as balsamum, was the oleoresin of a species of balsam tree. In Anglo-French, balsamum became basme and baume, spellings which entered Middle English and later became balm. Balm eventually begat the adjective balmy, used to describe things with a balm’s comforting, calming qualities, as when Shakespeare’s Othello speaks of “balmy slumbers.” Today balmy is typically used to describe the weather—balmy breezes, balmy temperatures, balmy spring afternoons, et al—conditions that are neither too hot nor too cold, but just right—Goldilocks conditions, even.
Examples of balmy in a Sentence
Justino Aguila, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
Two years ago, on a balmy July evening in London’s Wembley Stadium, Rebecca Lucy Taylor played to the biggest crowd of her career—and had a revelation.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025
Across the street on a balmy February evening, DoorDash driver Jefferson entered a spare, windowless waiting room to pick up an order.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2025
On a balmy day, walkers can be seen heading past the Waukegan Port District’s South Marina to the beacon.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balmy
Cite this Entry
“Balmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balmy. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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