Middle English Dictionary Entry
enointen v.
Entry Info
Forms | enointen v. Also enoignte, enoint(e, enointin, enonte, einoint, annointe, anoint(e(n, aninte, anoitin, onoint; present and imperative ennointeth, anointith, anointith; ppl. enointand, aninting, p. enointed(e, enointid, anointid(e, anointed; 2sg. anointidest; ppl. ennointid, enoignted, enointed, enointede, enointid, enountid, enuntid, anintid, anointed, anointed(e, anointid, anoitid, inointed. |
Etymology | From OF enoint, ppl. of enoindre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. nointen v. Past and past participial forms with a single dental (enoint etc., as opposed to enointed etc.) are ambiguous and may be regarded as belonging either to this word or to enoinen v.; they are taken by MED under the latter, q.v. OED treats them under their own entry, as adjectives albeit usually participial in function.
1.
(a) To smear or daub (sb. or sth. with a soft substance such as oil or grease); (b) to put oil on (food); to baste (a fowl); (c) to caulk (a ship); to seal (a casket).
Associated quotations
a
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.Barlaam (Vrn)377 : Þe toþur tweyne [shrines] he let enoynte Wiþ pich wiþ outen at eueri poynte.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)279/22 : Þou schalt anoynte þi longist fyngir of þi lift hond & þi þombe wiþ oile.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Wisd.13.14 : Makith it lijk to sum of beestis, and anoyntith with reed colour.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)698 : With hony..anoynted.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)96b/a : A litel byndel of cloþ anoynted wiþ som corrosyue.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)58a/b : Þe nedeles longe, playne, and anoyntede in þe poynte.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)140 : Enoyntyn, or gresyn, or ley yn to a thynge softe matere: Linio.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.191 : Ennoynteth eke The braunchis kitte.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)123 : J can with good oynture enoynte a shrewede wheel that cryeth.
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Num.6.15 : Cakis sodun in watir, and aftir anoyntid with oile.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)61 : Tak and anynte hym [a crane] and sauce hym with pouder of guinger.
c
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.6.14 : A schip..thou schalt anoynte it with pitche with ynne and with outforth.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)38a/a : Lino: To plastre or enoynte.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)26/127 : Anoynt thi ship with pik and tar.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)50/75 : The ship for to cleane and piche; anoynted yt must be every stich, board, tree, and pyn.
2.
(a) To apply an aromatic unguent to (sb., someone's head, etc.), to perfume; (b) to embalm (sb., someone's body); (c) fig. to imbue or fill (with sweetness), to embellish or make attractive; to flatter (sb.), to flatter deceitfully.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)145 : Scho enoynted him heued and fette.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)80/1119 : A mayde Þat wiþ oyle enoynted hire had, Þerfore þe deuel made hire mad.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)7a/a : Aromatizo: to anoynte.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)433/16 : Þe duris of his pales was made of evurye & enowntid with precious oyntementis.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)117.398-99 (v.2:p.252) : Marye [Magdalen] .. wyth a ful precyous oynement Cristys feet to anoytyn deuouhtly went, and whan she hys feet anoytyd had wyl .. vpon hys heed she poryd the tothyr dyl.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)204/6 : Scho kyssyd his fete and soo wyth her box anoyntyd hym.
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mark 16.1 : Swete smellynge oynementis..to anoynte Jhesu.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.50.3 : The custom of deed bodies anoyntid [WB(1): anoynt].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)9a/a : Balanatus: anoynted.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)2767 : Thus thay weren dyȝt a-none, wel ynoynted euerychone.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)143/3 : To anoynt his [Adam's] body wyth when he wer ded.
c
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1057 : These losengeris..the world with word anoynten.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.3.9 : Thise ben faire thynges and enoynted with hony swetnesse of Rethorik and Musike.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.324 : Me list nouther flatre the..Nor the t'enoynte be adulacioun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1638 : Wommen .. lik to Sirenes with vois melodious Enoynte your eres to make you lecherous.
3.
Med. To apply a healing unguent or medicine to (sb., the body, a wound, etc.); to daub or bathe with a lotion; also fig.
Associated quotations
- c1400(1375) Canticum Creat.(Trin-O 57)705 : Oyle..To anoynten þy fader Adam For þe siknesse þat he is in.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)134b/b : If feblenez come for þingez anyntyng, be þe eye conforted with riste & ydilnesse.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)6/9 : Oile of þe tree of mercy for to enoynt with his membres.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)91/1 : After þat it is dried be it anoynted.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)171 : J shulde haue hele if..ye enoyntede me.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)74/20 : Tak sawge, and gres of a ratoun and of a peg,..with þis a-noynte þe sauceflem.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)110/13 : Take a fedir, and wete it in þe medicine, and anoynte weell his eye.
- c1475 *Treat.Vet.(Trin-C R.14.51)60b/a : Euery day anoynte therwith thy tunge.
- ?c1475 *Trev.Nicod.(Sal 39)140b : Oyle..for to enonte my hede wanne I was seke.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)75/5 : [In winter] Onoynt þi body with good & hote oynmentz, & vse Bathes attemprez.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)464/41 : A soft medicine of pyte and off grace Eynoynt vs wyth, lord.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)8/16 : Take and a-noynte þy teþ with hors-grese.
4a.
To anoint or consecrate (a king, priest, etc.); to annoint (someone king, as king, to king); enointen with creme, to annoint.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)331a/b : In suche vessel þe oyle was y kepte to annoynte kynges and prestes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7286 : Samuel..þe first þat smerld [later hand: enoynted; Göt: noyntid] man to king.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.206 : Enoynted he [John] was als kyng.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)162/3 : Oure Lord god enoyntyd Saule Kynge.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)3 Kings 19.16 : Hieu, the sone of Nampsy, thou shalt anoynt kyng.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)3 Kings 19.16 : Thou schalt anoynte prophete for thee, Elise, sone of Saphat
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)299 : Schal neuer kyng of ȝour kynde with croune by ynoyntid.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2447 : A corownde kynge with krysom enoynttede.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)376 : He..of Leo þe pope was anyntyd kynge.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13395 : Kynges in hor kythe with corone anoyntted.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)9 : To enoynte the newe kynges.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)8/38 : As ye be a true kynge enoynted.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)549/16 : Thou arte a kynge anoynted with creyme.
4b.
(a) To administer extreme unction to (a sick or dying man); (b) to apply chrism to (sb.) in administering other sacraments, e.g. baptism or confirmation.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)10/8 : Þai anoynt na seke men.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)104/30 : Sche was anoyntyd for dowt of deth.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)137/13 : Sche had þe flyx a long tyme, tyl sche was anoyntyd, wenyng to a be deed.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)12 : Anoyntyd, or enoyntyd: Inunctus.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)233/15 : He askid for to be enoyntyd.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)145/6 : A yong man..reseyvid his sacrament, & was enoyntid, and so he dyed.
- c1475 St.Anselm Admon.(Rwl C.285)108 : When a seke man sal be en-vntyd, þe Crucifix suld be brogth.
b
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)670 : Wassche þe chylde..Þere he was anoynted in þe front.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)102/27 : Oyle þrouȝ whiche baptised [men] ben enoyntid.
4c.
Fig. To bless or sanctify (sb.) as with a sacrament.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 4.27 : Jhesu, whom thou anoyntidest.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Heb.1.9 : Þi God haþ a-noynted þe wiþ oyle of gladnesse.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2912 : Þe halygast on me es lyght & enoynt me.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.1.21 : God..has ennoyntid vs.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Mercy es maste (Cmb Dd.5.64)22 : With þi mercy my sawle anoynt, when I sal come to þi jugise.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)225/22 : Godys modyr..anoyntyd wyth þe creem of al maner holynes.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)343 : Crist is slayn, and with his blood we are an-oynted and are made hole.
4d.
To consecrate or dedicate (a temple, altar, etc.) by applying an unguent; to rub (a sacrificial substance on such an object).
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)129b/b : Þe bisschop..blessiþ þe wallis wiþ crisma and anoyntiþ hem.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)6104 : And hou þis lamb suld be puruaid. On þair poste and þair derner, þe blod þai suld anoint [Vsp: smer] it þer.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1446 : Wyth besten blod busily anoynted.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)354/3 : He was enoynttand þe poste with his hand.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)102/32 : Creeme where-þrouȝ the temple myȝt be enoynted in his dedicacion.
5.
To apply an ointment or lotion thought to possess magical or supernatural properties to (sb., sth.), as in sorcery or superstitious practices.
Associated quotations
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)139 : Whan þat womman þer-wiȝt hadde..wel an-oynted þe child..he wex to a werwolf.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1974 : He hath enoignted With sondri herbes that figure, And therupon he gan conjure.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3601 : Hou he schal Enoignte his armes al aboute.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3016 : Oyntement To enoynte hym with, þat he be nat brent.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)919 : Medee out hente A wel riche oynemente And an-oynted alle his body..For hit for-did al brennyng of ffire.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)57/27 : Þe Adamande..may noȝte be broken..bot if it firste be enoynted wit gayte blode.
- a1450 Eagle Magic in Tul.SE 22 (Add 34111)21/12 : Take a swerd of clene iren and enoynt wiþ hony [L suffimigans cum melle] and lege hym on a burd and smyte of þe heued and kepe þis blode in a vessel.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)335/33 : She had sette all the gobbettis of the hede..and there she anoynted hit..and put them to the body.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)115 : Thin armure must be anoyntid with goode onymentes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)883 : And anoyntide hym..Bothe the face and þe fete.