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Origin and history of unction

unction(n.)

late 14c., unctioun, "act of anointing as a religious rite," also for medicinal purposes, from Latin unctionem (nominative unctio) "anointing," from unctus, past participle of ungere "to anoint" (see unguent). In England the practice was dropped by the Protestants.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to unction

unguent(n.)

"any soft composition used as an ointment or lubricant," c. 1400, from Latin unguentem "ointment," from stem of unguere "to anoint or smear with ointment."

This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *ongw- "to salve, anoint" (source also of Sanskrit anakti "anoints, smears," Armenian aucanem "I anoint," Old Prussian anctan "butter," Old High German ancho, German anke "butter," Old Irish imb, Welsh ymenyn "butter").

unctuous(adj.)

late 14c., "resembling an ointment; having a greasy, oily, or soapy feeling when touched," from Old French unctueus, from Medieval Latin unctuosus "greasy," from Latin unctus "act of anointing," from past participle stem of unguere "to anoint" (see unguent).

The figurative sense of "blandly ingratiating, excessively suave" is recorded 1742, perhaps in part with a literal sense, but in part a sarcastic usage from unction in the meaning "deep spiritual feeling" (1690s), such as comes from having been anointed in the rite of unction. Related: Unctuously; unctuousness; unctuosity.

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    c. 1200, basme, "oily, resinous aromatic substance exuding naturally from shrubs of the genus Commiphora," from Old French basme, baume, balme "balsam, balm" (12c., Modern French baume), from Latin balsamum, from Greek balsamon "balsam," from Hebrew (Semitic) basam "spice," which
    salve
    "medicinal ointment or adhesive preparation for external use on wounds and sores," Old English sealf "healing ointment," from West Germanic *salbo- "oily substance" (source also of Old Saxon salba, Middle Dutch salve, Dutch zalf, Old High German salba, German salbe "ointment"), f
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    Extreme unction preserves the otherwise extinct sense of "last, latest" (15c.)....
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    not inchoate, but he is so terribly choate that, not content with being finished himself, he proceeds with great zeal and unction...
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    the West were baptism, penance, confirmation, holy orders, the Eucharist, matrimony, and anointing of the sick (extreme unction...
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    pertaining to the healing of disease, 1640s, from Modern Latin therapeuticus "curing, healing," from Greek therapeutikos, from therapeutein "to cure, treat medically," primarily "do service, take care of, provide for," of unknown origin, related to therapon "attendant." Therapeut
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    c. 1200, remedie, "means of counteracting sin or evil of any kind; cure for a vice or temptation;" late 14c., "a cure for a disease or disorder, medicine or process which restores health;" from Anglo-French remedie, Old French remede "remedy, cure" (12c., Modern French remède) an
    smirch
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    compliment
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    balsam
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