To anoint is the practice of applying something (usually liquid) to someone or something for religious reasons, usually as a form of consecration.  High priests were anointed in the Old Testament (Exodus 29:29), as were the vessels in the tabernacle (Exodus 30:26).  Regular priests were anointed (Leviticus 4:3; 6:20), as were Kings (1 Sam. 16:13), prophets (1 Kings 19:16), and the Lord Jesus at his baptism when the Holy Spirit came down as a dove and was upon him (Matt. 3:16; John 1:32; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22).  Anointing with oil was often done to houseguests (Luke 7:38) as well as the sick (James 5:14), and sometimes the dead (Mark 14:8; Luke 23:56).