עָלַם I (v. אָלַם) 1) to surround, tie up. —2) to be strong.
Pi. - עִילֵּם to tie up. Yalk. Prov. 946 quot. fr. Y’lamd. (ref. to וחושך, Prov. X, 19) לא אמרתי שתְּעַלֵּם פיך וכ׳ I did not say that thou must tie up thy mouth and sit in silence, but restrain thy lips from &c.; Yalk. Num. 738 שתְּאַלֵּים. Num. R. s. 14 (ref. to Gen. XLIX, 22) שעי׳ עינו מאשת וכ׳ he closed his eye not to look at the wife &c. (v. עָלַם II, Hif.).