† ˈunctious, a. Obs.
Also 5–6 vnctius, vnctyous, 6–7 vnctious.
[f. L. unct-um ointment: see -ious.]
= unctuous a. 1. (Common c 1600–1725).
| 1477 Norton Ord. Alch. v. (MS. Ashm. 1445) fol. 67 Þe same degrees..Vnctius sapor engender euer shall. 1542 Boorde Dyetary xiii. (1870) 265 Euery thyng that is vnctious..doth swymme aboue in the brynkes of the stomacke. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits vi. 84 That [moisture] which springs from the aire maketh them to prooue vnctious and ful of oyle and fat. 1639 T. de la Grey Expert Farrier 274, I will never use any other oyle or vnctious matter in any medicine. 1697 Tryon Way to Health vi. (ed. 3) 100 Whereby it is made more Spirituous than other Waters, and of a fat unctious Quality. 1764 Harmer Observ. 408 Lamps that are supplied with more than ordinary quantities of oyl, or other unctious substances. |
| fig. 1645 Quarles Sol. Recant. vi. 66 Or is she gone to oyle the wings of Time With unctious pleasures in some foraine Clime? 1646 ― Judgem. & Mercy Wks. (Grosart) I. 69 Steepe thy stupid senses in unctious, in delightful sports. |
Hence
† ˈunctiousness.
Obs.| 1560 Whitehorne Ord. Souldiours 27 So that nothinge else be burnte but..certaine grosse vnctiousnes of the saltepeter. a 1661 Fuller Worthies, Warwick. iii. (1662) 115 It burneth..clear and bright, as if the Sappe thereof had a fire-feeding Unctiousness therein. |