a·noint / əˈnoint/ • v. [tr.] smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony: bodies were anointed after death for burial. ∎  (anoint something with) smear or rub something with (any other substance): Cuna Indians anoint the tips of their arrows with poison. ∎  ceremonially confer divine or holy office upon (a priest or monarch) by smearing or rubbing with oil. ∎ fig. nominate or choose (someone) as successor to or leading candidate for a position: he was anointed as the organizational candidate of the party. PHRASES: Anointing of the Sick (in the Roman Catholic Church) the sacramental anointing of the ill or infirm with blessed oil; unction.

anoint ceremonially confer divine or holy office upon a priest or monarch by smearing or rubbing with oil; the word is recorded from Middle English, and comes ultimately (via French) from Latin inungere, from in- ‘upon’ + ungere ‘anoint, smear with oil’.
Anointing of the Sick (in the Roman Catholic Church) the sacramental anointing of the ill or infirm with blessed oil, unction.

anoint XIV. f. †anoint anointed — OF. anoint, enoint, pp. of enoindre :- L. inungere, f. IN-1 + ungere anoint (cf. OINTMENT). The (Lord's) Anointed, the CHRIST. XVI.