waxen

1
[ wak-suh n ]
/ ˈwæk sən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR waxen ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

made of or covered, polished, or treated with wax.
resembling or suggesting wax: Illness gave his face a waxen appearance.
weak, manageable, or impressionable: The minds of young children are waxen.

Origin of waxen

1
before 1000; Middle English; Old English weaxen; see wax1, -en2

Words nearby waxen

wax tree, waxahachie, waxberry, waxbill, waxcloth, waxen, waxer, waxeye, waxing, waxing moon, waxleaf privet

Definition for waxen (2 of 4)

waxen 2
[ wak-suh n ]
/ ˈwæk sən /

verb Literary.

a past participle of wax2.

Definition for waxen (3 of 4)

wax 1
[ waks ]
/ wæks /

noun

verb (used with object)

adjective

pertaining to, made of, or resembling wax: a wax candle; a wax doll.

Origin of wax

1
before 900; (noun) Middle English wex, waxe, Old English weax; cognate with Dutch was, German Wachs, Old Norse vax; (v.) Middle English wexen, derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM wax

wax·a·ble, adjective wax·like, adjective

Definition for waxen (4 of 4)

wax 2
[ waks ]
/ wæks /

verb (used without object), waxed; waxed or (Literary) wax·en; wax·ing.

to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc.: Discord waxed at an alarming rate.
(of the moon) to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon. Compare wane(def 4).
to grow or become: He waxed angry at the insinuation.

Origin of wax

2
before 900; Middle English waxen, Old English weaxan; cognate with German wachsen; akin to waist

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wax

wane wax

Words related to waxen

waxy, impressionable, soft, weak, yielding, ashen, blanched, ghostly, pallid, pasty, white, whitish

Example sentences from the Web for waxen

British Dictionary definitions for waxen (1 of 5)

waxen 1
/ (ˈwæksən) /

adjective

made of, treated with, or covered with wax
resembling wax in colour or texture

British Dictionary definitions for waxen (2 of 5)

waxen 2
/ (ˈwæksən) /

verb

archaic a past participle of wax 2

British Dictionary definitions for waxen (3 of 5)

wax 1
/ (wæks) /

noun

verb

(tr) to coat, polish, etc, with wax
to remove (body hair) by means of a wax treatment

Derived forms of wax

waxer, noun waxlike, adjective

Word Origin for wax

Old English weax, related to Old Saxon, Old High German wahs, Old Norse vax

British Dictionary definitions for waxen (4 of 5)

wax 2
/ (wæks) /

verb (intr)

to become larger, more powerful, etc
(of the moon) to show a gradually increasing portion of illuminated surface, between new moon and full moon Compare wane (def. 1)
archaic to become as specified the time waxed late

Word Origin for wax

Old English weaxan; related to Old Frisian waxa, Old Saxon, Old High German wahsan, Gothic wahsjan

British Dictionary definitions for waxen (5 of 5)

wax 3
/ (wæks) /

noun

British informal, old-fashioned a fit of rage or temper he's in a wax today

Word Origin for wax

of obscure origin; perhaps from the phrase to wax angry

Medical definitions for waxen

wax
[ wăks ]

n.

Any of various natural, oily or greasy heat-sensitive substances, consisting of hydrocarbons or esters of fatty acids that are insoluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents.
Cerumen.
A solid plastic or pliable liquid substance, such as paraffin, originating from petroleum and found in rock layers and often used in medicinal preparations.

Scientific definitions for waxen

wax
[ wăks ]

Any of various solid, usually yellow substances that melt or soften easily when heated. They are similar to fats, but are less greasy and more brittle. Naturally occurring animal and plant waxes are esters of saturated fatty acids and alcohols of high molecular weight, including sterols. Waxes are also manufactured synthetically from petroleum, and are used to make polishers, lubricants, coatings, waterproofing, crayons, candles, and many other products.

Idioms and Phrases with waxen

wax