From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Unction \Unc"tion\, n. [OE. unccioun, uncioun, OF. oncion,
onction, F. onction, fr. L. unctio, fr. ungere, unctum, to
anoint. See Unguent.]
1. The act of anointing, smearing, or rubbing with an
unguent, oil, or ointment, especially for medical
purposes, or as a symbol of consecration; as, mercurial
unction.
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To be heir, and to be king
By sacred unction, thy deserved right. --Milton.
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2. That which is used for anointing; an unguent; an ointment;
hence, anything soothing or lenitive.
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The king himself the sacred unction made. --Dryden.
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Lay not that flattering unction to your soul.
--Shak.
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3. Divine or sanctifying grace. [R.]
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4. That quality in language, address, or the like, which
excites emotion; especially, strong devotion; religious
fervor and tenderness; sometimes, a simulated, factitious,
or unnatural fervor.
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The delightful equivoque and unction of the passage
in Farquhar. --Hazlitt.
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The mention of thy glory
Is unction to the breast. --Neale
(Rhythm of St.
Bernard).
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Extreme unction (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.), the sacrament of
anointing in the last hours; the application of
consecrated oil by a priest to all the senses, that is, to
eyes, ears, nostrils, etc., of a person when in danger of
death from illness, -- done for remission of sins. [James
v. 14, 15.]
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
unction
n 1: excessive but superficial compliments given with affected
charm [syn: unction, smarm, fulsomeness]
2: smug self-serving earnestness [syn: fulsomeness,
oiliness, oleaginousness, smarminess, unctuousness,
unction]
3: semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied
externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation [syn:
ointment, unction, unguent, balm, salve]
4: anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual
[syn: unction, inunction]