Skip to content

The word for today is…

unctuous (adjective):

1: having, revealing, or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality
2a: fatty, oily
b: smooth and greasy in texture or appearance
3: plastic

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : Nowadays, unctuous usually has a negative connotation, but it originated as a term describing a positive act: that of healing. The word comes from the Latin verb unguere (“to anoint”), a root that also gave rise to the words unguent (“a soothing or healing salve”) and ointment. The oily nature of ointments may have led to the use of unctuous to describe things marked by an artificial gloss of sentimentality. An unctuous individual may mean well, but the person’s insincere effusiveness can leave an unwelcome residue—much like that of some ointments.

If you enjoyed this BFD word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.

Latest

Face of the Day

Face of the Day

The performer, who rose to fame with her 2007 song Foundations, said the money generated by posting images of a “bum” will fund her tours.

Members Public