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

• IPA: /əˈnɔɪnt/

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.

• French: oindre, enduire, étaler, étendre
• German: ölen, schmieren, einreiben
• Italian: ungere
• Portuguese: ungir, untar, olear
• Russian: сма́зывать
• Spanish: ungir

• French: oindre
• German: ölen, salben
• Italian: ungere, oleare, oliare
• Portuguese: ungir
• Russian: ма́зать
• Spanish: ungir