oleaginous

WOTD – 3 February 2009    

English

Etymology

From French oléagineux, from Latin oleāginus, from olea (“the olive fruit and tree”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˌəʊ.lɪˈædʒ.ɪ.nəs/, X-SAMPA: /%@u.lI"{dZ.I.n@s
• (US) IPA: /ˌoʊ.liˈædʒ.ɪ.nəs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

oleaginous (comparative more oleaginous, superlative most oleaginous)

1. Oily, greasy.
2. (of manner or speech) Falsely or affectedly earnest; persuasively suave.

   The oleaginous salesman convinced me to buy a more expensive car.

Synonyms

• (oily, greasy): greasy, oily, sebaceous, unctuous
• (falsely or affectedly earnest): fulsome, smarmy, unctuous

Translations

oily, greasy

• Finnish: öljyinen (fi)
• Polish: oleisty (pl) m

• Russian: маслянистый (ru) (masljanistyj)

falsely or affectedly earnest; persuasively suave

• Finnish: lipevä (fi)

• Russian: елейный (ru) (jelejnyj)