verb. (old).—1.  To flatter; TO BUTTER (q.v.).

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  c. 1400.  The Romaunt of the Rose, 1057.

        These losengeris hem preyse and smylen,
And thus the world with word ANOYNTEN.

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  1483.  CAXTON, Geoffroy de la Tour, H v b. More worthe is the frend whiche prycketh than the flaterynge frend whiche ENOYNTETH.

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  2.  (old).—To bribe; ‘to grease the palm’ (q.v.); to ‘creesh the loof.’

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  1584.  KNOX, The History of the Reformation in Scotland [Works (1846), I. 102]. Yea, the handis of our Lordis so liberallie were ANOYNTED.

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  3.  (old).—To beat; to thrash soundly; also, ‘to ANOINT with the sap of a hazel rod’ (North): cf. STRAP-OIL. Whence ANOINTED = well drubbed (see next entry).

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  c. 1500.  The Romans of Partenay (SKEAT), 5653.

        Then thay put hym hout, the kyng Away fly,
Which so well was ANOYNTED [Fr. Qui anoit este si bien oingt] indede,
That no sleue ne pane had he hole of brede.

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  1575.  R[ichard] B[ower], Appius and Virginia [DODSLEY, Old Plays [HAZLITT], iv. 121]. Have at you again: you shall have your ANOINTING.

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  c. 16[?].  Roxburghe Ballads, ‘Dumb Maid’ [B. M., C. 20, f. 8, 112].

        And take you the Oyl
  of Hazel strong,
With it ANOINT her Body round.

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  1703.  WILLIAM FULLER, Trip to Bridewell, J. ASHTON, The Fleet, 211]. The Whipper began to NOINT me with his Instrument, that had … about a dozen Strings notted at the end.

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  1748.  SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, v. ‘I’ll bring him to the gangway, and ANOINT him with a cat-and-nine-tails.’

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  1772.  BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 139.

        Broomsticks …
With which themselves they us’d to switch,
And call it ’NOINTING for the itch.

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  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. OIL OF GLADNESS, I will ANOINT you with the oil of gladness, ironically spoken for, I will beat you.

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  1824.  IRVING, Tales of a Traveller, II. 287. Seize a trusty staff … and ANOINT the back of the aggressor.

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