unction

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the ceremonial act of anointing someone with oil, especially as a religious rite

   The priest administered the unction with blessed oil.

2. 2
   noun

   literary: a soothing or flattering belief applied to one's conscience or feelings

   He laid the comforting unction to his conscience that no one had been harmed.

3. 3
   noun

   an ointment or salve applied to the body

   The healer spread a cooling unction over the irritated skin.

Borrowed from Latin unctio, 'an anointing,' from ungere, 'to smear or anoint.' The religious rite and medicinal ointment senses are direct continuations of applying oil. Literary phrases such as lay the unction to one's soul turn that soothing application into a metaphor for comforting or self-flattering reassurance.

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