v. arch. Forms: 4 aneli, -ye, 4–6 aneyle, 5 enele, 6 aneil, -eele, anneyle, -el, 6–7 aneal(e, anneal, 4– anele. [orig. aneli-en, f. AN- pref. 1 on + eli-en to oil, f. OE. ele, œle, oil:—*oli, ad. L. oleum. Cf. ANOIL.
1. To anoint (chiefly as a religious rite).
c. 1315. Shoreham, 44. Me schel the mannes lenden anelye.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episcop. (1647), 205. Dispensation … vt baptizatos Vnguant, to aneale baptized people. Ibid. (1649), Gt. Exemp., xv. § 11. Mary Magdalen thought it not good enough to anneal his sacred feet.
1874. Farrar, Silence & Voices, x. 171. The love of Mary … led her to … anele with precious spikenard her Saviour’s feet.
2. spec. To give the last anointing or extreme unction to the dying. (See ANELING.)
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 11269. Many … seye, Anele hem nat but þey shulde deye.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 337/4. He dyde doo calle his Abbot and dyd hym to be eneled or enoynted.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 318. Chyldren were crystened … & men houselyd & anelyd.
1530. Palsgr., 431/1. I aneele a sicke man … Jenhuylle.
1558. Bp. Watson, Sev. Sacram., xxx. 193. Priestes or Priest … to praye ouer you, and to aneyle you.
1853. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, III. II. 79. For aneling those whose sickness threatened them with speedy death.
