Unction UNC'TION, n. [L. unctio, from ungo, to anoint.]
1. The act of anointing.
2. Unguent; ointment. [Unusual.]
3. The act of anointing medically; as mercurial unction.
4. Any thing softening or lenitive.
5. That which excites piety and devotion.
6. Richness of gracious affections.
7. Divine or sanctifying grace. 1 John 1.
Extreme unction, the rite of anointing in the last hours; or the application of sacred oil to the parts where the five senses reside.

unction n 1: excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm [syn: unction, smarm, fulsomeness] 2: smug self-serving earnestness [syn: fulsomeness, oiliness, oleaginousness, smarminess, unctuousness, unction] 3: semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation [syn: ointment, unction, unguent, balm, salve] 4: anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual [syn: unction, inunction]

unction noun Etymology: Middle English unccioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin unction-, unctio, from unguere to anoint — more at ointment Date: 14th century 1. the act of anointing as a rite of consecration or healing 2. something used for anointing ; ointment, unguent 3. a. religious or spiritual fervor or the expression of such fervor b. exaggerated, assumed, or superficial earnestness of language or manner ; unctuousness

unction
n.
1 a the act of anointing with oil etc. as a religious rite. b the oil etc. so used.
2 a soothing words or thought. b excessive or insincere flattery.
3 a the act of anointing for medical purposes. b an ointment so used.
4 a a fervent or sympathetic quality in words or tone caused by or causing deep emotion. b a pretence of this.
Etymology: ME f. L unctio f. ung(u)ere unct- anoint

unction ˈʌŋkʃən n. 1 a the act of anointing with oil etc. as a religious rite. b the oil etc. so used. 2 a soothing words or thought. b excessive or insincere flattery. 3 a the act of anointing for medical purposes. b an ointment so used. 4 a a fervent or sympathetic quality in words or tone caused by or causing deep emotion. b a pretence of this. [ME f. L unctio f. ung(u)ere unct- anoint]

UNCTION was my What's The Word? choice for Tuesday, Dec 30, 2008

Unction \Unc"tion\, n. [OE. unccioun, uncioun, OF. oncion, onction, F. onction, fr. L. unctio, fr. ungere, unctum, to anoint. See Unguent.] 1. The act of anointing, smearing, or rubbing with an unguent, oil, or ointment, especially for medical purposes, or as a symbol of consecration; as, mercurial unction. To be heir, and to be king By sacred unction, thy deserved right. --Milton. 2. That which is used for anointing; an unguent; an ointment; hence, anything soothing or lenitive. The king himself the sacred unction made. --Dryden. Lay not that flattering unction to your soul. --Shak. 3. Divine or sanctifying grace. [R.] 4. That quality in language, address, or the like, which excites emotion; especially, strong devotion; religious fervor and tenderness; sometimes, a simulated, factitious, or unnatural fervor. The delightful equivoque and unction of the passage in Farquhar. --Hazlitt. The mention of thy glory Is unction to the breast. --Neale (Rhythm of St. Bernard). Extreme unction (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.), the sacrament of anointing in the last hours; the application of consecrated oil by a priest to all the senses, that is, to eyes, ears, nostrils, etc., of a person when in danger of death from illness, -- done for remission of sins. [James v. 14, 15.]

UNCTION unk'-shun: The the King James Version translation of chrisma (1Joh 2:20), which the Revised Version (British and American) renders "anointing," as the King James Version renders the same word in 1Joh 2:27.

Unction (1 John 2:20,27; R.V., "anointing"). Kings, prophets, and priests were anointed, in token of receiving divine grace. All believers are, in a secondary sense, what Christ was in a primary sense, "the Lord's anointed."

unction n. 1. Anointing, smearing, rubbing. 2. (Rare.) Unguent, ointment. 3. Fervor, warmth, ardor, fervency, earnestness, passion, enthusiasm, power, force, spirit, energy, verve, emotion, devotional feeling.

79 Moby Thesaurus words for "unction": Tartuffery, Tartuffism, affectation, anointment, balm, balsam, brilliantine, cant, cerate, chrism, chrismal, chrismation, chrismatory, chrisom, cold cream, collyrium, cream, demulcent, embrocation, emollient, extreme unction, eye-lotion, eyewash, eyewater, face cream, false piety, falseness, flattering tongue, goody-goodiness, greasing, gush, hand lotion, hypocrisy, insincerity, inunction, inunctum, lanolin, last rites, lenitive, liniment, lotion, lubricating, lubrication, lubrification, mealymouthedness, mummery, nard, oil, oiliness, oiling, ointment, pharisaicalness, pharisaism, pietism, pietisticalness, piety, piousness, pomade, pomatum, religionism, religiosity, sacramental anointment, sacred unction, salve, sanctimoniousness, sanctimony, self-righteousness, slobber, smarm, snivel, snuffle, soothing syrup, spikenard, that flattering unction, unctuousness, unguent, unguentum, viaticum, vulnerary

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