lubricant

& s. [Lat. lubricans, pr. par. of lubrico to make slippery; lubric us =slippery; Ital. lubric ante.] †A. As adj .: Lubricating. lû-bri-cāte, v . t . [Lat. lubric at us , pa. par. of lubrico to make slippery; lubric us = slippery; Ital. lubricure; Sp. lubricar , lubrificar ; Fr. lubrifier .] 1. Lit .: To make smooth and slippery, so as to diminish friction; to rub or smear with some greasy substance. 2. Fig .: To make smooth; to smoothen, to make easy. "Here rills of oily eloquence, in soft Meanders, lubricate the course they take." Cowper: Task , iv. 65. *lû-bri-cate, a. [LUBRICATE, v .] Slippery. lû-bri-ca-tion, s. [LUBRICATE, v .] 2574 2. Fig .: Uncertain, unsteady, unstable. "Much le shall I positively determine any thing in matters so lubricous and uncertain." - Glanvill : Preexistence of Souls , ch. xii. lû-bri-făc-tion, s . [Latin lubric us = smooth, slippery, and facio = to make.] The act or operation of lubricating or making smooth.