Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HEAL, v.t. [Sax. hælan, helan, gehelan, to heal, and to conceal, L. celo; Goth. hailyan, to heal; G. heilen; D. heelen; Sw. hela; Dan. heeler; from hal, heil, heel, hel, whole, sound, allied to hold and holy. Heb. כל, כלל, Ch. כלא, to be whole or entire, all. The primary sense of the root is to press, strain, extend; hence, to hold, to shut, inclose, conceal, to embrace the whole. To heal is to make whole, hale, sound, and to conceal is to hold, or keep close.]

1. To cure of a disease or wound and restore to soundness, or to that state of body in which the natural functions are regularly performed; as, to heal the sick. speak, and my servant shall be healed. Matth. viii.
2. To cure; to remove or subdue; as, to heal a disease.
3. To cause to cicatrize; as, to heal a sore or wound.
4. To restore to soundness; as, to heal a wounded limb.
5. To restore purity to; to remove feculence or foreign matter. Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters. 2 Kings ii.
6. To remove, as differences or dissension; to reconcile, as parties at variance; as, to heal a breach or difference.
7. In Scripture, to forgive; to cure moral disease and restore soundness. I will heal their backsliding. Hos. xiv.
8. To purify from corruptions, redress grievances and restore to prosperity. Jer. xiv.
9. To cover, as a roof with tiles, slate, lead, &c. [Sax. helan.] Encyc.