unctuosus

Forms

ūnctuōsus (feminine ūnctuōsa, neuter ūnctuōsum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin ūnctum (“ointment”) + -ōsus, the ending shaped after adjectives such as virtuōsus, according to Wiktionary;^[1] the DMLBS derives it from Classical ūnctus.^[2] These belong to unguō (“to anoint”), which goes back to Proto-Italic *ongw-e- (“to anoint”) and Proto-Indo-European *h₃engʷ-e/o- (“to anoint”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a medieval word;^[4] Köbler's source is Latham's word list of British Medieval Latin (before 1250).^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant oily, greasy or viscous.^[1][2] Peter of Blois uses it of spoiled wine, and medieval medical and alchemical writers of blood, urine and minerals.^[2] As a noun in the feminine it named a healing plant, selfheal.^[2] Du Cange glosses it as full of grease, French onctueux,^[5] and Neo-Latin writers on surgery and architecture still used it.^[6] English unctuous (late 14th century) comes from it through Old French.^[7]

Timeline

• before 1250 – Recorded in British Medieval Latin.^[4]
• late 14th century – English borrows it, through Old French, as unctuous.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) Oily, greasy, viscous.^[1][2][6]

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, feminine) selfheal, a healing plant.^[2]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
6. ^ a b Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com