inunction

9.9

An act of putting oil on a person during a religious or healing ceremony

noun
/ɪˈnʌŋkʃən/

Jargon

: unción

During the ceremony, the priest performed the inunction with consecrated oil.

Examples

During the healing ritual, an inunction was applied to the sick.
The tradition of inunction continues in several religious rites around the world.
During the ceremony, the priest performed the inunction with consecrated oil.
In medieval times, inunction was believed to have both spiritual and healing powers.
The priest performed an inunction during the ceremony.
The tradition of inunction continues in several religious rites around the world.
In medieval times, inunction was believed to have both spiritual and healing powers.

Synonyms

anointing

vsinunction

8 7.9

To put oil on a person or thing in a religious ceremony

is broader and also covers healing uses and thicker ointments

anointment

vsinunction

1 8.2

To apply oil to a person in a religious ceremony to show blessing or protection

adds healing meaning and use of ointment beyond ceremonial oil

unction

vsinunction

Formal

1 9.9

An act of putting oil on someone during a religious ceremony

is the specific term including oil or ointment in those rituals

How Anointed

inunction

Jargon

9.9

coating

35 3.4

to smear

63 3.7

dab

7 3.1

Surface Forms

inunction singular

inunctions plural

Morphology

inunction = unction (semi-transparent) = in + unction

The form 'in- + unction' is formally recoverable, but the prefix does not function as a common productive modifier for learners, so recognizing the base does not guarantee understanding of the full meaning.

Etymology

Inunction comes from the parts in- ('in' or 'on') and unct ('to anoint') and is like the words anoint and ointment, so inunction means the act of putting oil or ointment on someone in a religious or healing ceremony.