anointed

[ uh-noin-tid ]

adjective

1. consecrated or made sacred; dedicated to God, often in a ceremony that includes dabbing or sprinkling with holy oil:

   In the Bible, the anointed High Priest was chosen from among the descendants of Aaron.

   From the highest patriarch to the youngest baptized and anointed infant, communion was received by all at the Orthodox church.

2. chosen by or as if by divine authority; chosen for a sacred, high, or special vocation or purpose:

   Stalin left no anointed successor, nor any framework for the orderly transfer of power.

3. Christianity. empowered or made effective for God’s purposes by the special activity of the Holy Spirit:

   This is one of the most anointed websites I’ve ever visited—I was so encouraged by the devotional there.

4. rubbed or sprinkled with oil, ointment, or other oil-based mixture:

   Pausing in the kitchen with the turkey, I heard ripples of anticipation as guests awaited the anointed bird and its accouterments.

5. sprinkled or smeared with any liquid (often used in combination):

   The Pilsner on tap was a lovely light beer that paired nicely with lemon-juice-anointed oysters.

noun

1. Often A·noint·ed. the person or people chosen or declared chosen by God:

   David kept Abishai from killing King Saul, because it would be wicked to attack the Lord's anointed.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of anoint.

Other Words From

• self-a·noint·ed adjective
• un·a·noint·ed adjective
• well-a·noint·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anointed¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; anoint ( def ) + -ed ²( def ) for the adjective and noun senses; anoint ( def ) + -ed ¹( def ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

Regardless, Newsom inevitably will be pushed into the presidential arena by the news media, which already has anointed him as a leading contender.

From Los Angeles Times

After Biden dropped out of the race following a disastrous debate performance, Harris was anointed to the top of the ticket, bypassing the scrutiny of a primary without a single vote being cast.

From BBC

It was during that 2010 stint on “The X Factor” that Cowell anointed him a member of One Direction, which would go on to become one of the most successful pop groups of the decade.

From Los Angeles Times

In following Christ, she explained, it is his mercy and advocacy for the downtrodden — for whom he was anointed to bring "glad tidings" — that she and her fellow marchers look to for guidance.

From Salon

The national media anointed him with a label he immediately rejected: hero.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• angelic
• celestial
• eternal
• heavenly
• holy
• mystical
• religious
• sacred
• spiritual
• supernatural
• transcendent
• wonderful