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Where does the word "anoint" come from? It comes from Latin inungere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "anoint" come from? It comes from Latin inungere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Anoint’s story begins in Latin: inungere meant “to smear on.” 'in-' plus 'unguere', to smear, the root of 'ointment'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as enoint. Past participle used as an English verb. It reached English by 1300s as anoint. Kings were anointed at coronation. Today, anoint means to smear with oil in a religious ceremony.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient inungere "to smear on", 'in-' plus 'unguere', to smear, the root of 'ointment'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval enoint "anointed", past participle used as an English verb.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s anoint "to smear with oil", kings were anointed at coronation.