Unction
['ʌŋ(k)ʃ(ə)n] or ['ʌŋkʃən]
Definition
(noun.) anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual.
(noun.) excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm.
Checker: Patrice--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) 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.
(n.) That which is used for anointing; an unguent; an ointment; hence, anything soothing or lenitive.
(n.) Divine or sanctifying grace.
(n.) 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.
Editor: Thea
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. [Rare.] Unguent, ointment.[2]. Fervor, emotion, devotional feeling.
Checked by Cordelia
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Life, spirit, force, animation, fervor, power
ANT:Flatness, lameness, weakness, Inanimateness, coldness, perfunctoriness,lifelessness, dilutedness, vapidity
Typed by Gordon
Definition
n. an anointing: that which is used for anointing: ointment: that quality in language which raises emotion or devotion: warmth of address: divine or sanctifying grace.—n. Unctūos′ity state or quality of being unctuous: oiliness: greasiness.—adj. Unc′tūous oily: greasy.—adv. Unc′tūously.—n. Unc′tūousness unctuosity.—Extreme unction (R.C. Church) the sacrament of anointing persons with consecrated oil in their last hours.
Checker: Lowell
Unserious Contents or Definition
n. An oiling or greasing. The rite of extreme unction consists in touching with oil consecrated by a bishop several parts of the body of one engaged in dying. Marbury relates that after the rite had been administered to a certain wicked English nobleman it was discovered that the oil had not been properly consecrated and no other could be obtained. When informed of this the sick man said in anger: 'Then I'll be damned if I die! '
Typed by Juan
Examples
- He spoke to _me_ with unction. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- They appeared to afford rather an unusual unction to his soul, and his astonishment seemed to me not quite unmixed with gratitude. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- The unction, the suavity of her behaviour offered, for one who knew her, a sure token that suspicion of some kind was busy in her brain. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Before you is a marble slab, which covers the Stone of Unction, whereon the Saviour's body was laid to prepare it for burial. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- The voice of that sly little book was a honeyed voice; its accents were all unction and balm. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Krook almost smacks his lips with the unction of a horrible interest. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
Checked by Beth