wax English · revision 14946

+ Wax, the substance made by bees, and wax, to grow, are separate Old English words, though the ODWO notes that they may share a root.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /wæks/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|substance}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=805|origins=ine-pro *wokso-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The substance is [[inh|enm|wax]], [[inh|ang|weax]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*wahsam]],^(Etymonline) cognate with [[ofs|wax]], [[osx|wahs]], [[nl|was]], [[goh|wahs]] (modern [[de|Wachs]]) and [[non|vax]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*wokso-|t=wax]], also the source of [[lt|vaškas]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Hoad derives it from a root meaning to weave,^(Hoad 1986) and Merriam-Webster relates it to [[wick]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Beeswax: 805.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early use it was especially the substance that takes a seal, or the surface of writing tablets (1533).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A ''man of wax'', a wax image, is an obsolete phrase of 1439.^(OED 1989) The name passed to other similar substances in the 18th century.^(Etymonline) Waxwork is from the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986) In American slang of 1932 wax was a gramophone record, since master records were cut in a waxy disc.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 805 – beeswax.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1439 – man of wax (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1533 – wax of writing tablets.^(OED 1989)

+ * 17th century – waxwork.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 18th century – other waxy substances.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1932 – wax, a record (US slang).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[beeswax|alt=Beeswax]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any of various similar natural or mineral substances, such as [[paraffin]] wax.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[earwax|alt=Earwax]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To coat, treat or polish with wax.^(AHD)

+ # To make a gramophone record of.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made of wax.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[waxen]]

+ * [[waxy]]

+ * [[waxwork]]

+ * [[beeswax]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|grow}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=ine-pro *aug-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ To grow is [[inh|enm|waxen]], [[inh|ang|weaxan|t=to increase, grow]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*wahsanan]],^(Etymonline) cognate with [[ofs|waxa]], [[osx|wahsan]], [[nl|wassen]], [[goh|wahsan]] (modern [[de|wachsen]]) and [[non|vaxa]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) and related to [[la|augeō|t=to increase]] and [[grc|αὐξάνω|tr=auxánō|t=to grow, increase]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from an extended form of [[ine-pro|*aug-|t=to increase]] (see [[eke]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To grow: about 725, in Beowulf;^(Barnhart 1988) first of trees and plants.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of persons and animals it is from the late 12th century,^(Etymonline) and to become, as in ''to wax lyrical'', from the 12th.^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) Of the moon it is from early Middle English, paired with [[wane]].^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) The verb is now limited to a few such uses.^(Cresswell 2021) [[waist|alt=Waist]] seems to come from the same root.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – to grow.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1123 – wexen.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 12th century – of persons and animals.^(Etymonline)

+ * 12th century – to become.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # Of the moon, to show a growing lit area between new and full.^(AHD)

+ # To increase gradually in size, number, strength or intensity.^(AHD)

+ # ''(literary)'' To become: ''to wax lyrical''.^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[woadwaxen]]

+ * [[woodwaxen]]

+ * [[wick]]

+ * [[wane]]

+ * [[waist]]

+ * [[eke]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Wax, a fit of temper (1854), as when someone is said to be ''in a wax'', perhaps comes from wax, to grow.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}