Meaning & use
unguent
A soft, greasy substance, such as an ointment or salve, applied to the skin for healing.
See it in a sentence
The healer rubbed a fragrant unguent onto the wound to speed its healing.
Ancient Egyptian priests stored their scented unguents in small carved alabaster jars.
A note on using this word
Unguent is a formal, somewhat archaic word; 'ointment' or 'salve' are the everyday equivalents.
Words with a similar meaning
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