Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of anointing with oil or ointment, especially as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual: "Inunction" refers specifically to the process of rubbing or smearing a substance, typically an oil or salve, onto the skin.

Usage

"Inunction" is a formal and somewhat rare term, primarily used in medical, historical, or religious contexts. It describes the application of a substance by rubbing it into the skin.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The priest performed the inunction with sacred oil.
  • Inunction was a common method for administering certain medicines before the advent of oral pills.

Advanced Usage

• "Therapeutic inunction": the rubbing in of a medicinal ointment for treatment.
  • The doctor prescribed a course of therapeutic inunction for the skin condition.

Variants and Related Words

• Inunct (verb, archaic): to anoint or smear with oil.
• Unguent (noun): a soft, greasy ointment, often used for inunction.
• Anointment (noun): the act of applying oil, often in a ceremonial context; a more common synonym.

Synonyms

• Anointing: applying oil or ointment, especially in a ritual.
• Unguention (rare): the application of an unguent.
• Embrocation: the act of rubbing a part of the body with a liniment.

Related Phrases

• "To administer by inunction": to give a treatment by rubbing it into the skin.
  • The old remedy was administered by inunction.

Noun

1. anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual