unction
an act of anointing, especially as a medical treatment or religious rite.
an unguent or ointment; salve.
something soothing or comforting.
an excessive, affected, sometimes cloying earnestness or fervor in manner, especially in speaking.
Religion.
the oil used in religious rites, as in anointing the sick or dying.
the shedding of a divine or spiritual influence upon a person.
the influence shed.
the manifestation of spiritual or religious inspiration.
Origin of unction
1Other words from unction
- unc·tion·less, adjective
Words Nearby unction
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use unction in a sentence
Rather late that evening we administered extreme unction to him, for otherwise he was sufficiently prepared for it.
Chet was reading his lines with much unction while striding up and down Lauras pretty little room.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage | Gertrude W. MorrisonBy spirituality and unction he redeemed a scarcely agreeable exterior.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z | Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois ChristopheThe priest may be obliged to administer baptism, to hear confession, to give the Viaticum and Extreme unction.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine | Austin MalleyThe ‘test’ he generally adopted was that of ‘swimming,’ which James I. recommends with much unction in his ‘Demonologie.’
Witch, Warlock, and Magician | William Henry Davenport Adams
British Dictionary definitions for unction
/ (ˈʌŋkʃən) /
mainly RC Church Eastern Churches the act of anointing with oil in sacramental ceremonies, in the conferring of holy orders
excessive suavity or affected charm
an ointment or unguent
anything soothing or comforting
Origin of unction
1Derived forms of unction
- unctionless, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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