Thursday, August 19, 2010

Word Woman


Welcome to another exciting episode of Word Woman's Weekly Work-Out! Are you ready to go back to school yet? The time is almost upon us! Let's warm up those neurons with the Word of the Week:

Unctuous:
Pronunciation: \ˈəŋ(k)-chə-wəs, -chəs, -shwəs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French unctueus, from Medieval Latin unctuosus, from Latin unctus act of anointing, from unguere to anoint
Date: 14th century

1 a : fatty, oily b : smooth and greasy in texture or appearance
2 : plastic
3 : full of unction; especially : revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality

unc·tu·ous·ly adverb

-- "unctuous." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010.

Merriam-Webster Online. 14 August 2010

unc·tu·ous·ness noun


Example: Steve's unctuous manner did little to ingratiate him with his co-workers. In fact, all it did was earn him the nickname "Steve the Snake".


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