extreme unction

[ ek-streem, ik-streem ]

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

1. anointing of the sick.

extreme unction

noun

1. RC Church a former name for anointing of the sick

Word History and Origins

Origin of extreme unction¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

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

From Salon

“Did you call a priest to give him extreme unction?” he asked.

From Literature

Accepting it, he joked: "I knew that being made a Saoi... is extreme unction; it is a final anointment - Aosdana's last rites."

From BBC

The movie is a dewy valentine in funeral time, a last rite administered with extreme unction.

From Time

Another woman grinned with pride when she correctly answered that “extreme unction” is what Catholics used to call the Anointing of the Sick, part of the Last Rites.

From New York Times