English Explanatory Dictionary

unctuous

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment; greasy, oily.
  2. Having fat or oil present; fatty, greasy, oily.
  3. 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.
  4. Of soil: soft and sticky.
  5. Of a person:
  6. Complacent, self-satisfied, smug.
  7. Profusely polite, especially in an insincere and unpleasant manner.

Pronunciation

/ˈʌŋ(k)t͡ʃʊəs/ /-tjʊəs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-unctuous.wav /ˈʌŋ(k)(t)ʃəwəs/ /ˈʌŋ(k)(t)ʃəs/

Word forms

unctuous more unctuous most unctuous

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”). Cognates * Italian untuoso * Old French onctües, unctueus, unctuose (modern French onctueux) * Portuguese unctuoso * Spanish untuoso

Synonyms

adipose butyraceous fatty greasy lardaceous oily oleaginous pinguid saponaceous sebaceous soapy unctuous unguinous waxy mellowy slaistery slimy smarmy unctious unctuose savorous asslicky fawning groveling ingratiating obsequious schmoozy self-abasing sucky sycophantic toadyish toadying truckling

Antonyms

ununctuous

Related words

inunction unct unction unctional unctionless unctious unctiousness unctuose unctuosity unguent unguentarian unguentarium unguentary unguentiferous unguentous unguenty unguinous fat

Derived words

unctuously unctuousness ununctuous

Translations

Armenian: օծ Bulgarian: мазен Bulgarian: угоднически Catalan: untuós Catalan: greixós Czech: mastný Czech: krémový Czech: úlisný Czech: slizký Czech: vtíravý Dutch: olieachtig Dutch: vettig Dutch: vleierig Dutch: zalvend Finnish: öljyinen Finnish: lipevä Finnish: liukas Finnish: mairea French: onctueux French: patelin French: doucereux French: mielleux Georgian: ზეთოვანი German: ölig German: schmierig Greek: λιπαρός Ancient Greek: λῐπᾰρός Hebrew: שַׁמְנוּנִי Irish: ungthach Italian: untuoso Italian: grasso Italian: strisciante Macedonian: ма́слен Macedonian: ма́стен Macedonian: ли́гав Marathi: चिकण Polish: oleisty Polish: tłusty Polish: obłudny Portuguese: untuoso Portuguese: melífluo Romanian: onctuos Romanian: slinos Russian: масляни́стый Russian: жи́рный Sanskrit: चिक्कण Spanish: untuoso Ukrainian: ма́сляний Ukrainian: масни́й Chinese: 假空假死 Chinese: 假空假榫 Chinese: 假空假氣 /假空假气 Chinese Mandarin: 假惺惺 Chinese Mandarin: 惺惺 Ingrian: lippiä Japanese: 慇懃無礼 Vietnamese: ngọt xớt
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