בָּסֵם

בָּסֵם, בָּשֵׂם(√בס, בש cmp. בָּשַׁל, to boil, ripen, be warm, ferment) to be sweet, pleasant, pleasing. Lam. R. to I, 9 יערב לך ויִבְסַם לך may (the sacrifice) be sweet unto thee (Moloch), may it be pleasing unto thee. Gen. R. s. 85 יערב לבם יבושםוכ׳ (Yalk. Gen. 144, Josh. 35 יבסם) may (the wine you drank) be sweet to you, may it well agree with you.Denom. בּוֹסֶם. Pi. בִּסֵּם, בִּיסֵּם, בִּישֵּׂם to make a person look well, esp. (denom. of בּוֹסֶם) to perfume with oil Ex. R. s. 23 a bride מקשטין אותה ומְבַסְּמִין אותה is adorned and made handsome (her toilet is attended to).Part. pass. מְבוּסָּם, f. מְבוּסֶּמֶת, מְבוּשּׂ׳ perfumed, sweet Num. R. s. 20 מקישטת ומב׳ in full toilet. Tosef.Ber.VI (V), 5 it is not becoming for a scholar שיצא מבוסם to go out with perfumed oil on his head; Ber.43b מבוש׳. B. Bath.VI, 3 יין מב׳ sweet wine (guaranteed as not sour). (Pesik. R. s. 21 בישם העולם; Ruth. R. beg. ביסם, read בִּיסֵּס, v. בָּסַס. Hithpa. הִתְבַּסֵּם, הִתְבַּשֵּׂ׳; Nithpa. נִתְבַּסֵּם, נִתְבַּשֵּׂ׳ 1) to perfume ones self with oil Gen. R. s. 17. 2) to become exhilarated, to feel the wine. Koh. R. to XI, 9 אכל ושתה ונת׳ he ate and drank and felt well. 3) trnsf. to grow better, improve. Gen. R. s. 67, end נִתְבַּסְּמָה דעתו עליו his character grew better (play on בשמת Gen. 26:34).(Ib. s. 66 נתבשם העולם, v. בָּסַס.