UNCTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unction mean? 

• UNCTION (noun)
  The noun UNCTION has 4 senses:

1. excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm

2. smug self-serving earnestness

3. semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation

4. anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual

  Familiarity information: UNCTION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNCTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

fulsomeness; smarm; unction

Hypernyms ("unction" is a kind of...):

compliment (a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Smug self-serving earnestness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

fulsomeness; oiliness; oleaginousness; smarminess; unction; unctuousness

Hypernyms ("unction" is a kind of...):

hypocrisy (insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

balm; ointment; salve; unction; unguent

Hypernyms ("unction" is a kind of...):

curative; cure; remedy; therapeutic (a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain)

Meronyms (substance of "unction"):

lanolin; wool fat; wool grease (a yellow viscous animal oil extracted from wool; a mixture of fatty acids and esters; used in some ointments and cosmetics)

Domain category:

medical specialty; medicine (the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "unction"):

arnica (an ointment used in treating bruises)

baby oil (an ointment for babies)

balsam (an ointment containing a fragrant resin)

carron oil (an ointment formerly used to treat burns)

cerate (a hard medicated paste made of lard or oil mixed with wax or resin)

chrism; chrisom; holy oil; sacramental oil (a consecrated ointment consisting of a mixture of oil and balsam)

lip balm (a balm applied to the lips)

mentholated salve (a salve containing menthol)

mercurial ointment (an ointment containing mercury)

zinc ointment (an ointment containing zinc that is used to treat certain skin diseases)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

inunction; unction

Hypernyms ("unction" is a kind of...):

religious ceremony; religious ritual (a ceremony having religious meaning)

anointing; anointment (the act of applying oil or an oily liquid)

 Context examples 

That gentle creature, after a moment's thoughtful survey of the carpet, delivered herself with much dry unction as follows.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

That you may, my good little girl: there is not another being in the world has the same pure love for me as yourself—for I lay that pleasant unction to my soul, Jane, a belief in your affection.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)