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unctionmore about unction

unction

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Unction  \Unc"tion\,  n.  [OE.  unccioun  uncioun  OF  oncion, 
  onction,  F.  onction,  fr  L.  unctio,  fr  ungere  unctum  to 
  anoint.  See  {Unguent}.] 
  1.  The  act  of  anointing,  smearing,  or  rubbing  with  an 
  unguent,  oil,  or  ointment,  especially  for  medical 
  purposes,  or  as  a  symbol  of  consecration;  as  mercurial 
  unction. 
 
  To  be  heir,  and  to  be  king  By  sacred  unction,  thy 
  deserved  right  --Milton. 
 
  2.  That  which  is  used  for  anointing;  an  unguent;  an  ointment; 
  hence  anything  soothing  or  lenitive. 
 
  The  king  himself  the  sacred  unction  made  --Dryden. 
 
  Lay  not  that  flattering  unction  to  your  soul. 
  --Shak. 
 
  3.  Divine  or  sanctifying  grace.  [R.] 
 
  4.  That  quality  in  language,  address,  or  the  like  which 
  excites  emotion;  especially,  strong  devotion;  religious 
  fervor  and  tenderness;  sometimes  a  simulated,  factitious, 
  or  unnatural  fervor. 
 
  The  delightful  equivoque  and  unction  of  the  passage 
  in  Farquhar  --Hazlitt. 
 
  The  mention  of  thy  glory  Is  unction  to  the  breast. 
  --Neale 
  (Rhythm  of  St 
  Bernard). 
 
  {Extreme  unction}  (R.  C.  Ch  &  Gr  Ch.),  the  sacrament  of 
  anointing  in  the  last  hours;  the  application  of 
  consecrated  oil  by  a  priest  to  all  the  senses  that  is  to 
  eyes,  ears,  nostrils,  etc.,  of  a  person  when  in  danger  of 
  death  from  illness,  --  done  for  remission  of  sins.  [James 
  v.  14,  15.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  unction 
  n  1:  excessive  but  superficial  compliments  given  with  affected 
  charm  [syn:  {smarm},  {fulsomeness}] 
  2:  smug  self-serving  earnestness  [syn:  {fulsomeness},  {oiliness}, 
  {oleaginousness},  {smarminess},  {unctuousness}] 
  3:  anointing  as  part  of  a  religious  ceremony  or  healing  ritual 
  [syn:  {inunction}] 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Unction 
  (1  John  2:20,27;  R.V.,  "anointing").  Kings,  prophets,  and 
  priests  were  anointed,  in  token  of  receiving  divine  grace.  All 
  believers  are  in  a  secondary  sense  what  Christ  was  in  a 
  primary  sense  "the  Lord's  anointed." 
 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  UNCTION,  n.  An  oiling,  or  greasing.  The  rite  of  extreme  unction 
  consists  in  touching  with  oil  consecrated  by  a  bishop  several  parts  of 
  the  body  of  one  engaged  in  dying.  Marbury  relates  that  after  the  rite 
  had  been  administered  to  a  certain  wicked  English  nobleman  it  was 
  discovered  that  the  oil  had  not  been  properly  consecrated  and  no  other 
  could  be  obtained.  When  informed  of  this  the  sick  man  said  in  anger: 
  "Then  I'll  be  damned  if  I  die!" 
  "My  son,"  said  the  priest,  "this  is  what  we  fear."




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