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Unction

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The act of anointing with oil as a rite of consecration, healing, or preparation for death, especially in Christian sacraments.

Detailed Definition
Unction (or Anointing) is used in rites such as baptism, confirmation, and the Anointing of the Sick (Extreme Unction). It signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit, healing, and strengthening. In poetry, unction symbolizes a sacred dedication, a setting apart for a divine purpose. The image of being anointed carries connotations of being chosen, healed, or prepared for a spiritual passage. It represents the tangible touch of grace, a consecration that marks a person or object as holy.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Catholic poetry, Unction anoints the sick: “Oil on brow—Unction, grace for body’s final journey”; In James 5, Unction heals: “Call the elders—Unction in name of the Lord”; In contemporary poetry, Unction is blessing: “Mother’s kiss on fevered head—Unction of care”; Poets expand Unction: “Laying on of hands—Unction where presence is medicine.”
Additional Notes
Unction, from Latin ungere (“to anoint”), appears in James 5:14 as a rite for the sick and in Catholic tradition as part of the Last Rites; historically, kings and priests were anointed to signify divine election; in poetry, oil symbolizes grace, healing, and consecration—its smooth, luminous quality evoking the gentle yet transformative touch of the sacred on human frailty.
Also Known As
Anointing Chrismation
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