adjective · rare

unctuous

unc·tu·ous

unctuous · more unctuous · most unctuous

масляний, масний

жирный, маслянистый

schmierig, ölig

Having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointmentHaving the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment; greasy, oily.

ⓘ

UK/ˈʌŋ(k)t͡ʃʊəs/US/ˈʌŋ(k)(t)ʃəwəs/

» They resented how his unctuous flattery tended to obtrude into serious meetings.

rul · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR

Meaning

6 senses

Having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment; greasy, oily.
Having fat or oil present; fatty, greasy, oily.
Of an aroma or taste, or a beverage (such as coffee or wine) or food (such as gravy, meat, or sauce): having layers of concentrated, velvety flavour; lush, rich.
Of soil: soft and sticky.
Of a person:
(figuratively)Complacent, self-satisfied, smug.
(figuratively)Profusely polite, especially in an insincere and unpleasant manner.
ölig, schmierig, schmierig
масляни́стыйmasljanístyj, жи́рныйžírnyj
ма́слянийmásljanyj, масни́йmasnýj

More definitions

unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech

Examples

3 sentences

They resented how his unctuous flattery tended to obtrude into serious meetings.
rul · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · C2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
The politician's unctuous smile failed to calm the restive crowd demanding real answers.
rul · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · C2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
His unctuous praise of the king was clearly meant to aggrandize his own position at court.
rul · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · C2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem

Translations

8 languages

Українська

By meaning 1

of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy:

Русский

By meaning 1

of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy:

Deutsch

By meaning 1

of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy:

Origin

From Late Middle English unctuous [and other forms], borrowed from Medieval Latin ūnctuōsu

From Late Middle English unctuous [and other forms], borrowed from Medieval Latin ūnctuōsus (“greasy, oily, unctuous”), from Latin ūnctum (“ointment; rich banquet; rich savoury dish”) + -ōsus (suffix meaning ‘full of; overly’ forming adjectives from nouns). Ūnctum is a noun use of the perfect passive participle of unguō (“to anoint; to smear with oil, to grease or oil”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃engʷ- (“to anoint; to smear”).

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