unction
noun/ˈʌŋk.ʃən/
Etymology Borrowed from Latin unctiō.
1
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:
2
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:
3
A balm or something that soothes.
4
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:
5
Unctuousness: A smug, exaggerated use of language; smarminess.
6
Divine or sanctifying grace.
- Derived terms
- extreme unction, unctional, unctionless