waxen

¹ American  

[wak-suhn] / ˈwæk sən /

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.

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waxen ² American  

[wak-suhn] / ˈwæk sən /

verb

Literary.

1. a past participle of wax.

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waxen ¹ British  

/ ˈwæksən /

adjective

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

2. resembling wax in colour or texture

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waxen ² British  

/ ˈwæksən /

verb

1. archaic a past participle of wax 2

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Etymology

Origin of waxen

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

Example Sentences

Her voice, paired with Mr. Carey’s writing, creates a beguiling audio backstory for a woman whom time has rendered as unreal as one of her waxen figures.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

“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.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2023

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.

From New York Times • Apr. 20, 2023

Soon after her fourth birthday, in the summer of 1930, a waxen effigy of Princess Elizabeth made its debut at Madame Tussauds, seated on a pony.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2022

Little by little, Amah’s face began to color, the gray waxen tinge warming to rose gold.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin