Where does “unctuously” come from?
unctuously (English) comes from English unctuous, from Medieval Latin unctuosus, from Latin unctum, from Latin unctus, from Latin ungō, from Latin unguō, from Proto-Italic ongʷō, from Proto-Indo-European h₃engʷ- — to smear, to anoint.
unctuously (English): Insincerely and excessively charming
Definitions
- Insincerely and excessively charming
Ancestry of “unctuously”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | unctuous | Oily or greasy; Rich, lush, intense, with layers... |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | unctuosus | oily, greasy, unctuous |
| 3 | Latin | unctum | nominative neuter singular of ūnctus; accusative... |
| 4 | Latin | unctus | anointed; greasy, oily |
| 5 | Latin | ungō | — |
| 6 | Latin | unguō | — |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | ongʷō | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃engʷ- | to smear, to anoint |