Link Centre Dictionary

ointment

oint·ment

UK/ˈɔɪntm(ə)nt/ US/ˈɔ̃ɪ̃(n)ʔ.mɪ̃(n)ʔ/ uncommon

noun

2.

toiletry consisting of any of various substances in the form of a thick liquid that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin

Origin

A later form (as if oint + -ment) of Middle English oinement, borrowed from Old French oignement (“an anointing”), from oigner, oindre, ongier (“to anoint”), from Latin ung(u)ō (“I anoint”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃engʷ- (“to smear, anoint”). Partly displaced native Old English sealf, whence modern salve.

Phrases

  • blue ointment
  • citrine ointment
  • fly in the ointment
  • flying ointment
  • saracenic ointment
  • Whitfield's ointment

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Part of

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.