unctuous
Meaning
- Having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment; greasy, oily.
- 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.
- Of soil: soft and sticky.
- (figuratively) Of a person:
- (figuratively) Of a person:
Opposite of
ununctuous
Synonyms
honeytongued
devil’s own
Translations
untuoso
ελαιώδης
onctueux
zalamero
yağlı
salbungsvollPronounced as (IPA)
/ˈʌŋ(k)t͡ʃʊəs/
Etymology
In summary
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
Notes
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