anoint
Etymology

From Middle English enointen, anointen, borrowed from Old French enoint, past participle of enoindre ("to anoint").

Pronunciation
  • IPA: /əˈnɔɪnt/
Verb

anoint (anoints, present participle anointing; simple past and past participle anointed)

  1. (transitive) To smear or rub over with oil or an unctuous substance; also, to spread over, as oil.
    Synonyms: salve, pomade, pomate, pomatum
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, John 9:6 ↗:
      He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
    • 1697, Virgil, “The Sixth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC ↗, page 371 ↗, line 315:
      And Fragrant Oils the ſtiffen'd Limbs anoint.
  2. (transitive) To apply oil to or to pour oil upon, etc., as a sacred rite, especially for consecration.
    Synonyms: salve
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, Exodus 29:7 ↗:
      Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his [Aaron's] head and anoint him.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, 1 Kings 19:15 ↗:
      Anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
  3. (transitive, figuratively) To choose or nominate somebody for a leading or otherwise important position, especially formally or officially, or as an intended successor.
  4. (transitive, historical) To mark somebody as an official ruler, especially a king or queen, as a part of a religious ceremony.
Translations Translations


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