Definition

1. Noun:
   • Anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual: The act of applying oil or ointment, especially in a sacred context.
   • Semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation: An ointment or salve used for medicinal or soothing purposes.
   • Smug self-serving earnestness: An excessive and often insincere display of earnest emotion or fervor.
   • Excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm: Flattery that is overly effusive and characterized by a contrived, smooth manner.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Religious anointing):
  • The priest performed the unction of the sick.
  • The rite of unction is an important sacrament in some Christian traditions.
• Noun (Medicinal ointment):
  • She applied a healing unction to the burn.
  • The doctor prescribed an unction for the skin rash.
• Noun (Smug earnestness):
  • He delivered his speech with unctuous unction.
  • Her apology was full of false unction.
• Noun (Excessive flattery):
  • The salesman's unction failed to convince the skeptical customer.
  • He was repelled by the unction in her compliments.

Advanced Usage

• "Extreme unction": A term, now often called the Anointing of the Sick, for a religious rite involving anointing a seriously ill or dying person.
  • The family requested that the priest administer extreme unction.
• "To speak with unction": To speak in an overly earnest, smooth, or ingratiating manner.
  • The politician spoke with unction about his humble beginnings.

Variants and Related Words

• Unctuous (adj): Excessively smooth, greasy, or ingratiating in manner or substance.
  • His unctuous flattery made everyone uncomfortable.
• Anoint (v): To apply oil or ointment ceremonially, often as part of a religious rite.
  • The prophet will anoint the new king.

Synonyms

• Anointing: The act of applying oil, especially in a ritual.
• Ointment: A smooth, oily preparation used on the skin.
• Unctuousness: The quality of being smugly earnest or ingratiating.
• Fulsomeness: Excessive and insincere praise or flattery.

Idioms and Phrases

• Lay on the unction: To apply flattery or speak with excessive, insincere earnestness.
  • He really laid on the unction when he asked for a favor.

Noun

1. anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual
2. semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation
3. smug self-serving earnestness
4. excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm