Oleaginous

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌəʊ.lɪˈæd͡ʒ.ɪ.nəs/

Definitions

1. Containing, producing, or resembling oil; excessively smooth and ingratiating in manner or speech
2. Having a texture or appearance like oil or grease ; displaying an insincerely flattering or sycophantic attitude
3. Characterized by an oily or greasy feel or look ; behaving in a slick and excessively flattering way to gain favor

Etymology: Olive oil is at the root of this word's sense of smooth, greasy flattery. The Latin "olea" meant the olive tree or its fruit, and Medieval Latin built "oleaginosus" from it, meaning "oily," a plain description of something rich with oil. The French "oléagineux" carried that literal sense into the language, and English borrowed it from French with the same core meaning: physically oily, like seeds or fats that yield oil. The figurative sense, applied to people whose manners are slick and unctuous, came later and is the one most readers know today. A man who is oleaginous is not just greasy but ingratiating, pouring on compliments in a way that feels slippery. Oil that smooths over friction makes a neat image for flattery that smooths over social friction, and the word's origin in the olive press stays visible in that metaphor.

Synonyms: greasy, slippery

Antonyms: dry, non-greasy