| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| unctuous |
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| SYLLABICATION: | unc·tu·ous |
| PRONUNCIATION: |   ngk ch - s |
| ADJECTIVE: | 1. Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness: “the unctuous, complacent court composer who is consumed with envy and self-loathing” (Rhoda Koenig). 2. Having the quality or characteristics of oil or ointment; slippery. 3. Containing or composed of oil or fat. 4. Abundant in organic materials; soft and rich: unctuous soil. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old French unctueus, from Medieval Latin  nctu sus, from Latin nctum, ointment, from neuter past participle of unguere, to anoint. | | OTHER FORMS: | unctu·ous·ly —ADVERB
unctu·ous·ness, unc tu·osi·ty (- s -t ) —NOUN
| | SYNONYMS: | unctuous, fulsome, oily, oleaginous, smarmy These adjectives mean insincerely, self-servingly, or smugly agreeable or earnest: an unctuous toady; gave the dictator a fulsome introduction; oily praise; oleaginous hypocrisy; smarmy self-importance.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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