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9 results for: Unctuous
unc·tu·ous 
Audio Help [uhngk-choo-uhs] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [uhngk-choo-uhs] Pronunciation Key –adjective
| 1. | characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, esp. in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug. |
| 2. | of the nature of or characteristic of an unguent or ointment; oily; greasy. |
| 3. | having an oily or soapy feel, as certain minerals. |
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < ML ūnctuōsus, equiv. to L ūnctu(s) act of anointing (ung(uere) to smear, anoint + -tus suffix of v. action) + -ōsus -ous]
] —Related forms
unc·tu·ous·ly, adverb
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
Unctuous
To learn more about Unctuous visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| unc·tu·ous
Audio Help (ŭngk'chōō-əs) Pronunciation Key
adj.
[Middle English, from Old French unctueus, from Medieval Latin ūnctuōsus, from Latin ūnctum, ointment, from neuter past participle of unguere, to anoint.] unc'tu·ous·ly adv., unc'tu·ous·ness, unc'tu·os'i·ty (-ŏs'ĭ-tē) n. Synonyms: These adjectives mean insincerely, self-servingly, or smugly agreeable or earnest: an unctuous toady; gave the dictator a fulsome introduction; oily praise; oleaginous hypocrisy; smarmy self-importance. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
unctuous
1387, "oily," from O.Fr. unctueus, from M.L. unctuosus "greasy," from L. unctus "act of anointing," from pp. stem of unguere "to anoint" (see unguent). Fig. sense of "blandly ingratiating" is first recorded 1742, perhaps in part with a literal sense, but in part a sarcastic usage from unction in the meaning "deep spiritual feeling" (1692), such as comes from having been anointed in the rite of unction.
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| unctuous | |
adjective | |
| unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech; "buttery praise"; "gave him a fulsome introduction"; "an oily sycophantic press agent"; "oleaginous hypocrisy"; "smarmy self-importance"; "the unctuous Uriah Heep"; "soapy compliments" [syn: buttery] |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
ngk
-
s)- Containing or composed of oil or fat.
unc
tu·ous·ness or unc
tu·osi·ty (-
s
-t
) n.
| The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. |
Main Entry: unc·tu·ous
Pronunciation: '&[ng](k)-ch&(-w&)s, '&[ng](k)sh-w&s
Function: adjective
: rich in oil or fat
: FATTY <an unctuous pharmaceutical preparation>
| Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc. |
Unctuous
Unc"tu*ous\ (?; 135), a. [F. onctueux, LL. unctuosus, fr. L. unctus anointment, fr. ungere, unctum, to anoint. See Unguent.]1. Of the nature or quality of an unguent or ointment; fatty; oily; greasy. "The unctuous cheese." --Longfellow. 2. Having a smooth, greasy feel, as certain minerals. 3. Bland; suave; also, tender; fervid; as, an unctuous speech; sometimes, insincerely suave or fervid. -- Unc"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- Unc"tu*ous*ness, n.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
unctuous
unctuous was Word of the Day on February 10, 2000.
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