Unctuousness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Unctuous \Unc"tu*ous\ (?; 135), a. [F. onctueux, LL. unctuosus,
     fr. L. unctus anointment, fr. ungere, unctum, to anoint. See
     {Unguent}.]
     1. Of the nature or quality of an unguent or ointment; fatty;
        oily; greasy. "The unctuous cheese." --Longfellow.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. Having a smooth, greasy feel, as certain minerals.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Bland; suave; also, tender; fervid; as, an unctuous
        speech; sometimes, insincerely suave or fervid.
        [1913 Webster] -- {Unc"tu*ous*ly}, adv. --
        {Unc"tu*ous*ness}, n.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  unctuousness
       n : smug self-serving earnestness [syn: {fulsomeness}, {oiliness},
            {oleaginousness}, {smarminess}, {unction}]