anoint
Bless with oil
To anoint is to apply oil or ointment to someone's body, typically as part of a religious ritual or ceremony: The priest anointed the dying man with holy oil.
In biblical tradition, kings and prophets were anointed as a sign of divine selection.
The figurative sense extends to choosing or designating someone for a role, often with an implication of blessing from above: The party anointed her as their candidate.
To anoint yourself is to presume authority or status not yet earned.
Assign to office
- designateFormally select or name
- selectCarefully pick from options
- chooseSelect from alternatives
- nameIdentifying word for someone
endorse · nominate · successor · heir · mantle · bless · sanction · authorize
Confer clerical authority
- consecrateMake sacred officially
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
deacon · ministry · vestments · laying on of hands · chrism · holy orders · ecclesiastical · apostolic
Consecrated anointing substance
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- altarSacred ritual table
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
liturgy · baptism · sanctuary · chalice · holy oil · ceremonial · sacred · rite
Sovereign's ornamental headpiece
- enthroneFormally install as ruler
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
- inaugurationFormal beginning ceremony
sovereign · monarch · regent · scepter · throne · royal · regal · kingship
appoint
Assign to office
name · endorse · nominate · successor · heir · mantle · bless · sanction · authorize · commission
ordain
Confer clerical authority
- consecrateMake sacred officially
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- priestOne who performs sacraments
clergy · deacon · ministry · vestments · laying on of hands · chrism · holy orders · ecclesiastical · apostolic · episcopal
chrism
Consecrated anointing substance
incense · liturgy · baptism · sanctuary · chalice · holy oil · ceremonial · sacred · rite · tabernacle
crown
Sovereign's ornamental headpiece
- enthroneFormally install as ruler
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
inauguration · sovereign · monarch · regent · scepter · throne · royal · regal · kingship · queenship
balm
Healing topical preparation
remedy · soothe · therapeutic · restorative · healing · medicinal · emollient · liniment · aromatic · myrrh
- Bible Wordsthou, thee, thy, thine, unto
- royal actionscoronation, decree, abdication, reign, knighting
- sacramentsbaptism, christening, confirmation, communion, matrimony
- Sacred Languageamen, hallelujah, alleluia, hosanna, holy
- venerationvenerate, revere, reverence, glorify, exalt
- worship verbspray, bless, baptize, consecrate, ordain
anointcurse
Invoked harm through words
imprecate · damn · execrate · anathematize · hex
- anointed oneDivinely appointed leader
- anointing oilOil for religious consecration
- anointed kingRuler blessed with sacred oil
- holy anointingSacred oil ceremony