Nearby Words

oily

[oi-lee] Origin

oil·y

[oi-lee] adjective, oil·i·er, oil·i·est, adverb
adjective
1.
smeared or covered with oil; greasy: an oily road surface.
2.
of the nature of, consisting of, or resembling oil.
3.
of or pertaining to oil.
4.
full of or containing oil.
5.
smooth or unctuous, as in manner or speech: an oily hypocrite.
adverb
6.
in an oily manner.

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Oily is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

Origin:
1520–30; oil + -y1

oil·i·ness, noun
non·oil·y, adjective
un·oil·y, adjective


5. fawning, smarmy, bootlicking.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
oily (ˈɔɪlɪ)
 
adj , oilier, oiliest
1.  soaked in or smeared with oil or grease
2.  consisting of, containing, or resembling oil
3.  flatteringly servile or obsequious
 
'oilily
 
adv
 
'oiliness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

oily
1520s, from oil + -y (2). Figurative meaning smooth, unctuous is from 1590s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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