unction

American  

[uhngk-shuhn] / ˈʌŋk ʃən /

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.

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unction British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• unctionless adjective

Etymology

Origin of unction

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

Example Sentences

“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

For many people, protein has become a kind of secular unction: it instantly anoints any food with an aura of health and goodness.

From The Guardian