unctuous

== English == === Etymology === From Late Middle English unctuous [and other forms], borrowed from Medieval Latin ūnctuōsus (“greasy, oily, unctuous”), from Latin ūnctum (“ointment; rich banquet; rich savoury dish”) + -ōsus (suffix meaning ‘full of; overly’ forming adjectives from nouns). Ūnctum is a noun use of the perfect passive participle of unguō (“to anoint; to smear with oil, to grease or oil”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃engʷ- (“to anoint; to smear”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈʌŋ(k)t͡ʃʊəs/, /-tjʊəs/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈʌŋ(k)(t)ʃəwəs/, /ˈʌŋ(k)(t)ʃəs/ Hyphenation: unc‧tu‧ous === Adjective === unctuous (comparative more unctuous, superlative most unctuous) (of a liquid, semisolid, or other substance) Having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment; greasy, oily. Synonyms: mellowy, oleaginous, saponaceous, (Scotland) slaistery, slimy, (dated, rare) smarmy, (obsolete) unctious, (obsolete, rare) unctuose, unguinous; see also Thesaurus:unctuous Antonym: ununctuous Having fat or oil present; fatty, greasy, oily. Of an aroma or taste, or a beverage (such as coffee or wine) or food (such as gravy, meat, or sauce): having layers of concentrated, velvety flavour; lush, rich. Synonym: savorous Of soil: soft and sticky. (figuratively) Of a person: Complacent, self-satisfied, smug. Profusely polite, especially in an insincere and unpleasant manner. Synonyms: greasy, oily, oleaginous, slimy, smarmy; see also Thesaurus:sycophantic ==== Derived terms ==== unctuously unctuousness ununctuous ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “unctuous”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “unctuous”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. “unctuous”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.