anoint

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Middle English enointen, anointen, borrowed from Old French enoint, past participle of enoindre (“to anoint”). Doublet of inunct.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

anoint (third-person singular simple present anoints, present participle anointing, simple past and past participle anointed)

  1. (transitive) To smear or rub over with oil or an unctuous substance; also, to spread over, as oil.
    Synonyms: salve, pomade, pomate, pomatum (obsolete or historical)
  2. (transitive) To apply oil to or to pour oil upon, etc., as a sacred rite, especially for consecration.
    Synonym: salve
  3. (transitive, figuratively) To choose or nominate somebody for a leading or otherwise important position, especially formally or officially, or as an intended successor.
    • 2024 March 16, Antonia Cundy, “The Opus Dei diaries”, in FT Weekend, page 18:
      Unlike other previous Prelates, who were swiftly anointed bishops, Francis did not follow suit. Ocáriz remained a Monsignor. In the eyes of many observers, it was a demotion of Opus Dei.
  4. (transitive, historical) To mark somebody as an official ruler, especially a king or queen, as a part of a religious ceremony.

Derived terms

[edit]
[edit]
English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₃engʷ- (0 c, 9 e)

Translations

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]

Anagrams

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=anoint&oldid=81500030"