anoint

• annoint (nonstandard)

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

• IPA^(key): /əˈnɔɪnt/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔɪnt

anoint (third-person singular simple present 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 (obsolete or historical)

   • 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.

   Synonym: 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.
   • 2024 March 16, Antonia Cundy, “The Opus Dei diaries”, in FT Weekend, page 18:

     Unlike other previous Prelates, who were swiftly anointed bishops, Francis did not follow suit. Ocáriz remained a Monsignor. In the eyes of many observers, it was a demotion of Opus Dei.

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

• “anoint”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “anoint”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “anoint”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• nation, 'nation, Nation, Tonian