unction



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


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.
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            To be heir, and to be king
            By sacred unction, thy deserved right. --Milton.
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   2. That which is used for anointing; an unguent; an ointment;
      hence, anything soothing or lenitive.
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            The king himself the sacred unction made. --Dryden.
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            Lay not that flattering unction to your soul.
                                                  --Shak.
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   3. Divine or sanctifying grace. [R.]
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   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.
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            The delightful equivoque and unction of the passage
            in Farquhar.                          --Hazlitt.
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            The mention of thy glory
            Is unction to the breast.             --Neale
                                                  (Rhythm of St.
                                                  Bernard).
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   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.]
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