ANOINT

anoint, inunct, oil, anele, embrocate

(verb) administer an oil or ointment to; often in a religious ceremony of blessing

anoint

(verb) choose by or as if by divine intervention; “She was anointed the head of the Christian fundamentalist group”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

anoint (third-person singular simple present anoints, present participle anointing, simple past and past participle anointed)

(transitive) To smear or rub over with oil or an unctuous substance; also, to spread over, as oil.

(transitive) To apply oil to or to pour oil upon, etc, as a sacred rite, especially for consecration.

(transitive, figuratively) To choose or nominate somebody for a leading or otherwise important position, especially formally or officially, or as an intended successor.

(transitive, historical) To mark somebody as an official ruler, especially a king or queen, as a part of a religious ceremony.

Synonyms

• salve

Anagrams

• Tonian, nation

Source: Wiktionary

A*noint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anointed; p. pr. & vb. n. Anointing.] Etym: [OF. enoint, p. p. of enoindre, fr. L. inungere; in + ungere, unguere, to smear, anoint. See Ointment, Unguent.]

1. To smear or rub over with oil or an unctuous substance; also, to spread over, as oil. And fragrant oils the stiffened limbs anoint. Dryden. He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. John ix. 6.

2. To apply oil to or to pour oil upon, etc., as a sacred rite, especially for consecration. Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his [Aaron's] head and anoint him. Exod. xxix. 7. Anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 1 Kings xix. 15. The Lord's Anointed, Christ or the Messiah; also, a Jewish or other king by "divine right." 1 Sam. xxvi. 9.

A*noint", p. p.

Definition: Anointed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition