- Today's Word
Abnegation
ab-nuh-GAY-shun
Definition
- (noun) The act of renouncing or rejecting something, often for moral or selfless reasons.
Example
His abnegation of wealth in favor of charity inspired many.
Fun Fact
Abnegation has long been a cornerstone of religious and philosophical traditions. In Buddhism, renouncing worldly pleasures is a path toward enlightenment, while in Stoic philosophy, self-denial fosters discipline and inner strength. Historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa practiced abnegation in their dedication to service. Even in literature, self-sacrificing heroes—like Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities—exemplify abnegation by putting others before themselves.
(adjective) Excessively smooth and flattering in a way that feels insincere; oily in manner or speech.
The unctuous sales manager greeted every client with the same practiced warmth — hand on the shoulder, lingering eye contact, a laugh perfectly timed to make you feel chosen — until you realized he did it with everyone.
Unctuous derives from the Medieval Latin unctuosus, meaning “greasy” or “oily,” rooted in unctum — “ointment” — from ungere, meaning “to anoint.” The same root gives us unguent and unction, the latter still used in religious contexts to describe the act of anointing with oil. It entered English in the 14th century with its literal meaning of oily or greasy texture before acquiring its figurative sense of someone whose excessive smoothness and flattery feels slippery and insincere — the social equivalent of something you can’t quite get a grip on.