unc´tu|ous|ness

unc´tu|ous|ness
unc|tu|ous «UHNGK chu uhs», adjective.
1. like an oil or ointment in texture; oily; greasy: »

Oak, now black with time and unctuous with kitchen smoke (Hawthorne).

2. Figurative. soothing, sympathetic, and persuasive; blandly ingratiating:
3. Figurative. a) too smooth and oily: »

the hypocrite's unctuous manner, an offensively unctuous speech.

 b) tending to or gushing with religious fervor or emotion, especially false or affected emotion; fervid in a shallow, sentimental way.
4. soft and clinging, but easily worked; rich in decayed organic matter, and containing more clay than sand.
5. (of clay) very plastic; somewhat fat, as bentonite.
╂[< Medieval Latin unctuosus < Latin unctus, -ūs anointment, anointing < unguere to anoint]
–unc´tu|ous|ly, adverb.
–unc´tu|ous|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • unc´tu|ous|ly — unc|tu|ous «UHNGK chu uhs», adjective. 1. like an oil or ointment in texture; oily; greasy: »Oak, now black with time and unctuous with kitchen smoke (Hawthorne). 2. Figurative. soothing, sympathetic, and persuasive; blandly ingratiating: 3.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • unc|tu|ous — «UHNGK chu uhs», adjective. 1. like an oil or ointment in texture; oily; greasy: »Oak, now black with time and unctuous with kitchen smoke (Hawthorne). 2. Figurative. soothing, sympathetic, and persuasive; blandly ingratiating: 3. Figurative. a)… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ness — ness·ber·ry; ness·ler·iza·tion; ness·ler·ize; ness·ler s; new·fan·gled·ness; new·ness; news·i·ness; nice·ness; nig·gard·li·ness; nig·gard·ness; nigh·ness; nip·pi·ness; no·ble·ness; nois·i·ness; non·cha·lant·ness; north·er·li·ness; north·ness;… …   English syllables

  • unc — in·unc·tion; in·unc·tum; unc; unc·tion; unc·tion·al; unc·tion·less; unc·tious; unc·tu·os·i·ty; unc·tu·ous; unc·tious·ness; unc·tu·ous·ly; unc·tu·ous·ness; …   English syllables

  • ous — ovig·er·ous; ovu·lif·er·ous; ozon·if·er·ous; ozon·ous; pa·lav·er·ous; pal·la·dif·er·ous; pal·la·di·ous; pap·il·lif·er·ous; pap·u·lif·er·ous; par·ous; par·ri·cid·i·ous; pec·tin·ous; pe·dig·er·ous; pel·tig·er·ous; pen·tam·er·ous; pe·nu·ri·ous;… …   English syllables

  • unctuousness — unc·tu·ous·ness …   English syllables

  • unctuous — unc|tu|ous [ ʌŋktʃuəs ] adjective FORMAL seeming interested, friendly, or full of praise, but in a way that is unpleasant because it is not sincere ╾ unc|tu|ous|ly adverb ╾ unc|tu|ous|ness noun uncount …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • unctuous — unc•tu•ous [[t]ˈʌŋk tʃu əs[/t]] adj. 1) characterized by affected earnestness or moralistic fervor; excessively suave or smug 2) characteristic of an unguent or ointment; oily; greasy 3) having an oily or soapy feel, as certain minerals •… …   From formal English to slang

  • tu — tu·ring; tu·ris·ta; ac·tu·al; ai·tu·ta·ki·an; as·tu·ri·an; aven·tu·rine; cen·tu·ple; cen·tu·ry; char·tu·lary; con·sti·tu·tion·al; con·sti·tu·tive; con·sue·tu·di·nary; con·ven·tu·al; fis·tu·lar·i·oid; for·tu·nate; for·tu·nate·ly; fruc·tu·ary;… …   English syllables

  • Unctuous — Unc tu*ous (?; 135), a. [F. onctueux, LL. unctuosus, fr. L. unctus anointment, fr. ungere, unctum, to anoint. See {Unguent}.] 1. Of the nature or quality of an unguent or ointment; fatty; oily; greasy. The unctuous cheese. Longfellow. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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