unction

[ uhngk-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act of anointing, especially as a medical treatment or religious rite.
2. an unguent or ointment; salve.
3. something soothing or comforting.
4. an excessive, affected, sometimes cloying earnestness or fervor in manner, especially in speaking.
5. Religion.
   1. the oil used in religious rites, as in anointing the sick or dying.
   2. the shedding of a divine or spiritual influence upon a person.
   3. the influence shed.
   4. extreme unction.
6. the manifestation of spiritual or religious inspiration.

unction

/ ˈʌŋkʃən /

noun

1. RC Church Eastern Churches the act of anointing with oil in sacramental ceremonies, in the conferring of holy orders
2. excessive suavity or affected charm
3. an ointment or unguent
4. anything soothing or comforting

Derived Forms

• ˈunctionless, adjective

Other Words From

• unction·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of unction¹

1350–1400; Middle English unctioun < Latin ūnctiōn (stem of ūnctiō ) anointing, besmearing, equivalent to ūnct ( us ) (past participle of ung ( u ) ere to smear, anoint) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of unction¹

C14: from Latin unctiō an anointing, from ungere to anoint; see unguent

Example Sentences

If I were diagnosing democracy right now in America, it is in a state of extreme unction.

From Salon

“As your holy apostles anointed many who were sick so may those who in faith receive this holy unction be made whole. Allen, can you please rub a drop of oil on the patient’s forehead?”

From The Guardian

Over the years, he proposed his own nouns of multitude, including an unction of undertakers, a shrivel of critics and a queue of actors.

From Washington Post

Ben bathed in the unction of his shouted name.

From Literature

The role not only artfully transmuted Morgan’s persona but also used the unique unction of his performance to comment on the entanglement of race and comedy.

From The New Yorker