unctuous

Etymology

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

adj

1. Of a liquid, semisolid, or other substance: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment; greasy, oily.
2. Having fat or oil present; fatty, greasy, oily.
3. Of an aroma or taste, or a beverage (such as coffee or wine) or food (such as gravy, meat, or sauce): having layers of concentrated, velvety flavour; lush, rich.
4. Of soil: soft and sticky.
5. (figurative) Of a person:
   1. Complacent, self-satisfied, smug.
   2. Profusely polite, especially in an insincere and unpleasant manner.