waxen

¹

[wak-suhn]

adjective

1. made of or covered, polished, or treated with wax.

2. resembling or suggesting wax.

   Illness gave his face a waxen appearance.

3. weak, manageable, or impressionable.

   The minds of young children are waxen.

waxen

²

[wak-suhn]

verb

Literary.

1. a past participle of wax.

waxen

¹

/ ˈwæksən /

adjective

1. made of, treated with, or covered with wax

2. resembling wax in colour or texture

waxen

²

/ ˈwæksən /

verb

1. archaic,  a past participle of wax 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of waxen¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English weaxen; wax ¹, -en ²

Example Sentences

His waxen face was frozen in a perpetual scowl.

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“That’s a lie,” was his standard rejoinder, strangely accompanied by a waxen smile that flickered on and off as though set on a faulty timer.

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Urs Fischer offers a literally waxen redeployment of antique statuary: a candle in the shape of the Three Graces, the central goddess facing backward, their absent heads turned into burning wicks.

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Steps away lay Benedict, rested between Swiss Guards, his head propped on crimson pillows, his face waxen, almost unrecognizable.

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The skin felt cool and slightly waxen, numb to the touch as though it wasn’t really mine at all.

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