unguent
[uhng-gwuh nt]
- an ointment or salve, usually liquid or semiliquid, for application to wounds, sores, etc.
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Origin of unguent
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin unguentum, alteration (probably by association with the suffixes -men, -mentum) of unguen fat, grease, derivative of unguere to smear, anoint
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for unguent
Historical Examples
But the unguent was not forthcoming, and the emperor was crowned without its aid.
Historical Tales, Vol. 6 (of 15)Charles Morris
At such a time the man should apply some unguent, so as to make the entrance easy.
The Kama Sutra of VatsyayanaVatsyayana
The Selgic iris1246 also, and the unguent which is made from it, are in great esteem.
And she gave them as much of the unguent as was sufficient for their persons.
Curiosities of SuperstitionW. H. Davenport Adams
Addressing her sportively, Krishna said, For whom are you carrying that unguent?
Curiosities of SuperstitionW. H. Davenport Adams
unguent
- a less common name for an ointment
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Word Origin
C15: from Latin unguentum, from unguere to anoint
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for unguent
n.
"ointment," mid-15c., from Latin unguentem "ointment," from stem of unguere "to anoint or smear with ointment," from PIE root *ongw- "to salve, anoint" (cf. Sanskrit anakti "anoints, smears," Armenian aucanem "I anoint," Old Prussian anctan "butter," Old High German ancho, German anke "butter," Old Irish imb, Welsh ymenyn "butter").
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
unguent
(ŭng′gwənt)- A soothing or medicinal salve.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.