anoint

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əˈnɔɪnt/ UK /əˈnɔɪnt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to ceremonially smear or rub with oil as part of a religious rite

The priest anointed the king during the coronation ceremony.
2

verb
to officially choose or designate someone for a particular role or position

She was anointed as the new leader of the organization.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to ceremonially smear or... consecrate bless sanctifysmear with oilrub with oil

2 verb · to officially choose or... appoint select designate ordain consecrate

Opposites

depose reject

Simplified etymology

Anoint entered English in the Middle English period through French and ultimately derives from Latin unguere, meaning “anoint.” The same Latin verb produced unction and unguent directly, and anoint and ointment through French.

Etymology

From Latin inungere ('to smear on'), past participle inunctus ('anointed'); via Old French anoint ('smeared with oil') into Middle English anointen ('to consecrate with oil'), giving Modern English anoint ('to consecrate, or to designate as chosen').

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# anoint

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əˈnɔɪnt/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈnɔɪnt/

## Meanings
1. to ceremonially smear or rub with oil as part of a religious rite
2. to officially choose or designate someone for a particular role or position

## Examples
- The priest anointed the king during the coronation ceremony.
- She was anointed as the new leader of the organization.

## Synonyms
- consecrate
- bless
- sanctify
- smear with oil
- rub with oil
- appoint
- select
- designate
- ordain

## Antonyms
- depose
- reject

## Etymology
From Latin inungere ('to smear on'), past participle inunctus ('anointed'); via Old French anoint ('smeared with oil') into Middle English anointen ('to consecrate with oil'), giving Modern English anoint ('to consecrate, or to designate as chosen').

## AI Etymology
Anoint comes from Latin inungere ('to smear on'), past participle inunctus ('anointed'); via Old French anoint ('smeared with oil') into Middle English anointen ('to consecrate with oil'), giving Modern English anoint ('to consecrate, or to designate as chosen'). In current use it is a verb meaning "to ceremonially smear or rub with oil as part of a religious rite". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the older form, the route into English, and the present lexical sense.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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