unc|tu|ous

unc|tu|ous
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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  • 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|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.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • unc·tu·ous — …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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

  • unctuous — unc·tu·ous …   English syllables

  • unctuously — unc·tu·ous·ly …   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

  • unctuous — unc|tu|ous [ˈʌŋktʃuəs] adj formal [Date: 1300 1400; : Medieval Latin; Origin: unctuosus, from Latin unctum ointment , from unguere; UNGUENT] too friendly and praising people too much in a way that seems very insincere >unctuously adv… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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