Waxen
/ˈwæk.sən/noun
Made of wax, resembling wax, or—archaically—increasing or growing.
Did you know?The verb “wax” once meant “to grow,” which is why the waxing Moon is literally described as increasing in size or brightness—not becoming wax-covered.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weg̑s- / *wogs-
“To grow, increase, or become strong”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*wahsjaną
“To grow or increase”
Old English
Old English
weaxan
“To grow, increase, or become larger”
Old English
Old English
weaxen
“Grown; made of wax, depending on context”
Middle English
Middle English
waxen
“Made of wax; growing or increasing”
Modern English
English
waxen
“Wax-like or made of wax; archaically, growing”