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Origin and history of unctious

unctious(adj.)

an obsolete variant of unctuous common c. 1600-1725. Related: Unctiously; unctiousness.

Entries linking to unctious

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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