Adjacent Words

Ointment definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

OINT'MENT, n. Unguent; any soft, unctuous substance or compound, used for smearing, particularly the body or a diseased part.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation [syn: ointment, unction, unguent, balm, salve]
2: toiletry consisting of any of various substances in the form of a thick liquid that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin [syn: cream, ointment, emollient]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, alteration of oynement, from Anglo-French uignement, oignement, ultimately from Latin unguentum, from unguere to anoint; akin to Old High German ancho butter, Sanskrit anakti he salves Date: 14th century a salve or unguent for application to the skin

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a smooth greasy healing or cosmetic preparation for the skin. Etymology: ME oignement, ointment, f. OF oignement ult. f. L (as UNGUENT): oint- after obs. oint anoint f. OF, past part. of oindre ANOINT

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ointment Oint"ment, n. [OE. oinement, OF. oignement, fr.F. oindre to anoint, L. ungere, unguere; akin to Skr. a?j, and to G. anke (in Switzerland) butter. The first t in the E. word is due to the influence of anoint. Cf. Anoint, Unguent.] That which serves to anoint; any soft unctuous substance used for smearing or anointing; an unguent.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(ointments) 1. An ointment is a smooth thick substance that is put on sore skin or a wound to help it heal. A range of ointments and creams is available for the treatment of eczema... He received ointment for his flaking skin. N-MASS 2. If you describe someone or something as a fly in the ointment, you think they spoil a situation and prevent it being as successful as you had hoped. Rachel seems to be the one fly in the ointment of Caroline's smooth life. PHRASE: v-link PHR

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Various fragrant preparations, also compounds for medical purposes, are so called (Ex. 30:25; Ps. 133:2; Isa. 1:6; Amos 6:6; John 12:3; Rev. 18:13).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

oint'-ment: The present use of the word "ointment" is to designate a thick unguent of buttery or tallow-like consistency. the King James Version in frequent instances translates shemen or meshach (see Ex 30:25) "ointment" where a perfumed oil seemed to be indicated. the American Standard Revised Version has consequently substituted the word "oil" in most of the passages. Merqachah is rendered "ointment" once in the Old Testament (Job 41:31 (Hebrew 41:23)). The well-known power of oils and fats to absorb odors was made use of by the ancient perfumers. The composition of the holy anointing oil used in the tabernacle worship is mentioned in Ex 30:23-25. Olive oil formed the base. This was scented with "flowing myrrh .... sweet cinnamon .... sweet calamus .... and .... cassia." The oil was probably mixed with the above ingredients added in a powdered form and heated until the oil had absorbed their odors and then allowed to stand until the insoluble matter settled, when the oil could be decanted. Olive oil, being a non-drying oil which does not thicken readily, yielded an ointment of oily consistency. This is indicated by Ps 133:2, where it says that the precious oil ran down on Aaron's beard and on the collar of his outer garment. Anyone attempting to make the holy anointing oil would be cut off from his people (Ex 30:33). The scented oils or ointments were kept in jars or vials (not boxes) made of alabaster. These jars are frequently found as part of the equipment of ancient tombs.

The word translated "ointment" in the New Testament is muron, "myrrh." This would indicate that myrrh, an aromatic gum resin, was the substance commonly added to the oil to give it odor. In Lu 7:46 both kinds of oil are mentioned, and the verse might be paraphrased thus: My head with common oil thou didst not anoint; but she hath anointed my feet with costly scented oil.

For the uses of scented oils or ointments see ANOINTING; OIL.

James A. Patch

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Unguent.

Moby Thesaurus

balm, balsam, blunt, boodle, brass, bread, brilliantine, bucks, cabbage, cerate, chips, chrism, chrismal, chrismation, chrismatory, chrisom, cold cream, collyrium, cream, demulcent, dinero, dough, dressing, embrocation, emollient, extreme unction, eye-lotion, eyewash, eyewater, face cream, gelt, gilt, grease, green, green stuff, hand lotion, inunction, inunctum, jack, kale, lanolin, last rites, lenitive, liniment, lotion, mazuma, moolah, mopus, nard, oil, oil of palms, oof, ooftish, petrolatum, pomade, pomatum, rhino, rocks, sacramental anointment, sacred unction, salve, shekels, simoleons, soothing syrup, spikenard, spondulics, sugar, the needful, tin, unction, unguent, unguentum, viaticum, vulnerary, wampum