unguent

C2+ Topic:Materials & Substances

US /ˈʌŋɡwənt/ UK /ˈʌŋɡwənt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a soft greasy substance used as ointment or for lubrication

She rubbed a fragrant unguent into the cracked leather.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a soft greasy substance... ointment salve balm cream lotion linimentembrocation

Word family

Derived forms unguentary

Related forms unctuous unction ointment anoint

Simplified etymology

Unguent entered English in the late Middle English period from Latin unguere, meaning “anoint.” It shares this origin with unction and, through French, with anoint and ointment.

Etymology

From Latin unguentum ('ointment, perfume'), from unguere ('to anoint, smear with oil').

unguentum Latin unguere Latin *h₃engʷ- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Materials & Substances Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# unguent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈʌŋɡwənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈʌŋɡwənt/

## Meanings
1. a soft greasy substance used as ointment or for lubrication

## Examples
- She rubbed a fragrant unguent into the cracked leather.

## Synonyms
- ointment
- salve
- balm
- cream
- lotion
- liniment
- embrocation

## Derived Forms
- unguentary

## Related Forms
- unctuous
- unction
- ointment
- anoint

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: unguentum
- Root: unguere
- Root: *h₃engʷ-

## Etymology
From Latin unguentum ('ointment, perfume'), from unguere ('to anoint, smear with oil').

## AI Etymology
Unguent is from Latin unguentum ('ointment, perfume'), from unguere ('to anoint, smear with oil'). Important recorded forms include unguentum (Latin), unguere (Latin), and *h₃engʷ- (Proto-Indo-European). The modern sense continues the older lexical line without requiring a separate origin. In current use it covers a soft greasy substance used as ointment or for lubrication. The wider family includes derived forms such as unguentary and related words such as unctuous, unction, ointment, and anoint.

## Topics
- Materials & Substances
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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