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 ².

waxen

¹

/ ˈwæksən /

verb

1. archaic.
   a past participle of wax 2

waxen

²

/ ˈwæksən /

adjective

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

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.

From Los Angeles Times

“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

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

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

From New York Times

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

From Literature