10 results for: unctuous

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Unctious

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Unctu*ous*ness

unctuaria

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

unc·tu·ous

Audio Help [uhngk-choo-uh

–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

unc·tu·ous·ness, unc·tu·os·i·ty

Audio Help [uhngk-choo-os-i-tee] Pronunciation Key, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
unctuous

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

unc·tu·ous Audio Help (ŭngk'chōō-əs) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness: "the unctuous, complacent court composer who is consumed with envy and self-loathing" (Rhoda Koenig).
Having the quality or characteristics of oil or ointment; slippery.
Containing or composed of oil or fat.
Abundant in organic materials; soft and rich: unctuous soil.

[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.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

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]

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

unc·tu·ous (ngkch-s)
adj.

Containing or composed of oil or fat.

unctu·ous·ness or unctu·osi·ty (-

-t

) n.

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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>

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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 - Cite This Source - Share This

Unctuous

Un"guent\ (?; 277), n. [L. unguentum, from unguere, ungere, to anoint: cf. F. onguent. See Ointment, and cf. Unction, Unctuous.] A lubricant or salve for sores, burns, or the like; an ointment. --Cowper.

Note: An unguent is stiffer than a liniment, but softer than a cerate.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day Archive - Cite This Source - Share This

unctuous

unctuous was Word of the Day on February 10, 2000.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day

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