unctuous

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*h₃engʷ-“to anoint; to smear”
2. Latin · derived fromūnctum“ointment; rich banquet; rich savoury dish”
3. Medieval Latin · derived fromūnctuōsus“greasy, oily, unctuous”
4. Middle English · inherited fromunctuous
5. English todayunctuous

From Late Middle English unctuous [and other forms], borrowed from Medieval Latin ūnctuōsus (“greasy, oily, unctuous”), from Latin ūnctum (“ointment; rich banquet; rich savoury dish”) + -ōsus (suffix meaning ‘full of; overly’ forming adjectives from nouns). Ūnctum is a noun use of the perfect passive participle of unguō (“to anoint; to smear with oil, to grease or oil”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃engʷ- (“to anoint; to smear”). Cognates * Italian untuoso * Old French onctües, unctueus, unctuose (modern French onctueux) * Portuguese unctuoso * Spanish untuoso

Words from the same roots