unction en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈʌŋk.ʃən/
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin ungō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin unctiōbor. English unction Borrowed from Latin unctiō.
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) An ointment or salve.
The King himſelf the ſacred Unction made, / As King by Office, and as Prieſt by Trade: […]
c. 1678 (date written; published 1682), J[ohn] Dryden, “Mac Flecknoe”, in Mac Flecknoe: A Poem. […] With Spencer’s Ghost: Being a Satyr Concerning Poetry. […], London: […] H[enry] Hills, […], published 1709, →OCLC, page 6:
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(countable, uncountable) A religious or ceremonial anointing.
To be heir, and to be king / By sacred unction, thy deserved right.
1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
- (countable, uncountable) A balm or something that soothes.
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(countable, uncountable) A quality in language, address or delivery which expresses sober and fervent emotion.
Krook almost smacks his lips with the unction of a horrible interest.
1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, chapter XI, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC:"Well, I'll say this for myself. If there's anything out of order where I'm about, I don't miss it." "I believe you," said Bradly with unction.
1938, Norman Lindsay, chapter XXI, in Age of Consent, London: T[homas] Werner Laurie […], →OCLC, page 223:
- (countable, uncountable) Unctuousness: A smug, exaggerated use of language; smarminess.
- (countable, uncountable) Divine or sanctifying grace.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| unctions | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
unctional · extreme unction · unctionless
Translations (34)
el χρίσμα (religious or ceremonial anointing) · ru еле́й (balm or something that soothes) · fi liukkaus (smug use of language) · pl namaszczenie (religious or ceremonial anointing) · bg миропомазване (religious or ceremonial anointing) · la unctio (religious or ceremonial anointing) · ru пома́зание (religious or ceremonial anointing) · bg крем (ointment or salve) · it balsamo (balm or something that soothes) · cs pomazání (religious or ceremonial anointing) · cs mazání (ointment or salve) · fi palsami (balm or something that soothes) · pl namaszczenie (ointment or salve) · fi voide (ointment or salve) · fr onction (religious or ceremonial anointing) · fr onction (ointment or salve) · ga ungadh (religious or ceremonial anointing) · fi liukaskielisyys (smug use of language) · hu ír (balm or something that soothes) · hu felkenés (religious or ceremonial anointing) · it crema (balm or something that soothes) · hu kenőcs (ointment or salve) · it unguento (balm or something that soothes) · grc χρῖσμα (religious or ceremonial anointing) · el αλοιφή (ointment or salve) · hu balzsam (balm or something that soothes) · ru мазь (ointment or salve) · fi voitelu (religious or ceremonial anointing) · bg мехлем (ointment or salve) · hu kenetteljesség (smug use of language) · hu önelégültség (smug use of language) · hu kenet (religious or ceremonial anointing) · es unción (religious or ceremonial anointing) · ga ungadh (ointment or salve)