unction

Everyday

1. (church) Unction is the act of anointing someone with holy oil as a sign of God's blessing, for example for the sick. tree →
2. (formal, disapproving) Unction is a way of talking that is too smooth, oily and falsely serious or polite. tree →
3. With unction means speaking with great warmth and feeling, as if you really enjoy what you are saying. tree →

In the lessons

In church, «the anointing of the sick», once called «extreme unction», is a sacrament in which a priest anoints a sick or dying person with oil; Catholics and some other Christians believe it brings God's strength and comfort. In the Bible, kings and priests were anointed with oil. In old books a person who speaks «with unction» seems greasy and insincere.

Examples

• The priest gave unction to the dying man. tree →
• Kings were anointed with holy oil, a kind of unction. tree →
• He spoke with great unction about his own goodness. tree →
• The anointing of the sick was once called extreme unction. tree →
• The salesman's unction made us distrust him. tree →
• Christians believe the oil is a sign of God's care. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: «unctuous» (oily, too smooth) is used more today than «unction» for the second sense.