Where does “ointment” come from?

Ointment comes from Middle English oinement, from Old French oignement, derived from Old French oindre meaning to anoint, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃engʷ-.

ointment (English): A viscous preparation of oils and/or fats,...

Definitions

  1. A viscous preparation of oils and/or fats,...

Ancestry of “ointment”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishoinementointment
2Old Frenchoignementointment; balm
3Old Frenchoindreto anoint
4Latinungōto anoint, smear with oil, grease
5Latinunguō—
6Proto-Italicongʷōto anoint
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃engʷ-to smear, to anoint

Words derived from “ointment”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃engʷ- →Every word from Proto-Italic ongʷō →Every word from Latin unguō →