The [[word]] is known in [[English]] since c. 1303, deriving from Old French enoint "smeared on", pp. of enoindre "smear on", itself from [[Latin]] inunguere, from in- "on" + unguere "to smear." Originally it only referred to grease or oil smeared on for [[medicinal]] [[purposes]]; its use in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coverdale_Bible Coverdale Bible] in [[reference]] to [[Christ]] (cf. The Lord's Anointed, see Chrism) has spiritualized the sense of it, a sense expanded and expounded upon by St Paul's writings in his "Epistles". The title [[Christ]] is derived from the [[Hebrew]] [[Messiah]] and means [[literally]]; covered in oil, anointed. | The [[word]] is known in [[English]] since c. 1303, deriving from Old French enoint "smeared on", pp. of enoindre "smear on", itself from [[Latin]] inunguere, from in- "on" + unguere "to smear." Originally it only referred to grease or oil smeared on for [[medicinal]] [[purposes]]; its use in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coverdale_Bible Coverdale Bible] in [[reference]] to [[Christ]] (cf. The Lord's Anointed, see Chrism) has spiritualized the sense of it, a sense expanded and expounded upon by St Paul's writings in his "Epistles". The title [[Christ]] is derived from the [[Hebrew]] [[Messiah]] and means [[literally]]; covered in oil, anointed. |