Wax v.¹

Pa. t. and pa. pple. waxed; also pa. pple. waxen. Forms: Inf. (and Pres. stem). 1 weaxan, weacsan, weahsan, weahxan, wexan, wehsan, 2–3 wecsen, 2–4, 6–7 arch. wexen, 3 uexen, wexi, 4–5 wix(e, 5 vexe, wexyn, vix(e, vyx(e, 3–6 wexe, 4–7 (9 arch.) wex; 2–4 wacse(n, 3 Orm. waxenn, waxxenn, 3–6 waxen, 5 waxyn, 4–6 Sc. vax, 6 weaxe, Sc. walx, 3–7 waxe, 3– wax, Contracted 2 sing. 1 wyxt, 4 wext; 3 sing. 1 weaxt, wexþ, wixt, etc., 3 west, 3–4 wexþ, 4 wext. Pa. t. sing. 1 wéox, wéocs, wéohs, Northumb. -wóx, 2 weax, weacs, 2–3 wæx, 3 weox, 2–5 wex, 4–5 wexe, weex, north. wix, wyx, 4 north. vex; 2 wacxs, 3–6 wax, 4–5 waxe, 4 waux; 3–6 (7, 9 arch.) wox, 4–6 (9 arch.) woxe, 4–6 Sc. vox, 5 woxse, 4–5 Sc. woux, 6 Sc. woix, wolx. Plur. 1 wéoxon, wéohson, wéoxson, Northumb. wóxon, Mercian wéxon, 2 weoxan, 3 weoxen, 3–5 wexe(n; 3 wuxen, 4 wuxe, 3–5 woxe(n, 4 waxen. weak. 4 wast, 4–5 wex-, waxide, -ede, pl. wexiden, -eden, 5 wexedde, wexid, wexte, waxet, waxte, waxhid, pl. waxiden, 5–6 waxt, 5–7 wext, wexed, 6 weaxed, 5– waxed. Pa. pple. 1 weaxen, 2 (ȝe)wexon, 3 (i)wexan, 3–6 wexen, 3–5 wexe, 4–5 wex, wexun, 5 -in, -yn, wixen; 3–7 (8–9 arch.) waxen, 3–6 waxin, 4–5 -yn, wax(e, 4 ywax, 5 waxun, waxson, 6 Sc. walxin; 3–7 woxen, 3–4 i-, ywoxe, 3–5 woxe, woxin, 3 (i)wox, 4, 6 wox, 4 woxyn, woxsen, 4–5 woxun. weak. 4 wexid, 5 y-wexed, 5–7 wext, 6 waxt, weaxed, Sc. vaxit, 6–7 wexed, 6– waxed. [A Common Teut. strong verb (which became weak in late ME.): OE. weaxan (pa. t. wéox, Northumb. wóx; pa. pple. weaxen) corresp. to OFris. waxa (W.Fris. waechsje, wachse, N.Fris. wāks), OS. wahsan, (M)Du. wassen, OHG. wahsan (MHG., mod.G. wachsen), ON. vaxa (Sw. vāxa, Da. vokse), Goth. wahsjan (with ja- suffix in the pres.-stem; pa. t. wōhs, pa. pple. wahsan-s):—OTeut. *waχs-:—pre-Teut. *woks-, an ablaut variant of Indogermanic *aweks-, *auks-, *uks- (Gr. ἀέξειν, αὔξειν, αὐξάνειν to increase, Skr. ukš to grow, perf. vavakša, causative vakšayati), an extended form of *aweg- *aug-, *ug- (L. angēre to increase, Sk. ōjas neut., strength, Lith. augu I grow, OTeut. *auk- in Goth. aukan, OHG. onhhôn, OE. éacian to grow, increase: see EKE v.)

  The OTeut. conjugation of the verb is retained in Goth., OHG., OS., and ON.; in OE. it is confined to the Northumbrian dialect (pa. t. wóx); the WS. pa. t. wéox and the Du. wies are due to the analogy of the reduplicating verbs.

  The strong pa. t. became rare after the 14th c., and is now wholly obsolete; the one or two examples in the poetry of the 18–19th c. are deliberately archaistic. For the pa. pple. the Bible of 1611 has waxed four times and waxen eight tines; in recent use waxen is not unfrequent when the verb is conjugated with to be, but is otherwise very rare.]

  Originally a more frequent synonym of GROW v., which has now superseded it in general colloquial use, exc. with reference to the moon (see 6). With this exception, the senses below which are not marked as obsolete are confined to literary use, and have, in varying degrees, a somewhat archaic flavor; some of those under branch I survive only in the traditional antithesis with WANE v. The verb is said still to be current in certain dialects: see Eng. Dial. Dict.

  I.  To grow, increase. (Opposed to wane, † wanze.)

  1.  intr. Of a plant or its parts: To increase gradually in size and vigor; to develop, sprout (up). Obs. exc. dial. † Also, to grow in a specified habitat or situation (obs.).

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xl. 293. Sumu twiʓu he lehte mid wætere, ðonne hie to hwon weoxson, ðæt hie ðy to wane, suiður weaxan sceolden.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 402. Rixe weaxst ʓewunelice on wæteriʓum stowum.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 161. Hie wenden þe eorðe, and wurpen god sad þaronne, and hit wacxs and wel þeagh.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 494. Corn & frut hom wax inouȝ.

c. 1381.  Chaucer, Parl. Foules, 206. There wex ek euery holsum spice & gres.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xiii. 7. The thornis wexen vp.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 4772. Lo, þis was a wondirfull werk … þat þai [trees] suld wax soo & wane within a wale time.

14[?].  in Rel. Ant., I. 54. Tak everferne that waxes on the ake.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 40 b. When the Corne is ripe … you must then haue it in, that it may rather waxe in the Barne then in the Feelde.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., v. 51. The Stem shall strongly wax, as still the Trunk doth wither.

1886.  S. W. Linc. Gloss., s.v., The plums are waxing nicedly.

  † b.  Of a mineral: To be native, be found, in a specified place; = GROW v. 2 b. Obs.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. ii. 11. Þæt land þe ys ʓehaten Euilað, þær þær gold wext [Vulg. ubi nascitur aurum].

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 12. Al þe presciouse Peerles þat in paradys waxen.

  2.  Of human beings and animals: To increase gradually in size and strength of body and limb. arch. and dial.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke ii. 40. Soðlice þæt cild weox.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 3182. & swiþe wel he wex & þraf.

c. 1205.  Lay., 30073. Þa children wuxen and wel iðoȝen.

a. 1300.  Havelok, 791. Ich am wel waxen.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10613. Als sco wex on hir licame, Sua wex hir loueword and hir fame.

13[?].  Coer de L., 2836. For fourty pound men sold an oxe, Though it were but lytyl woxe.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 12449. Thies [two sons] were gyuen to the gouernaunce of a gay kyng,… Till þai waxen were of wit & of wight dedis.

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 247. In this nourysshing he waxe and grewe in all beawte, strengthe, and prudence.

a. 1547.  Surrey, Æneid, IV. 353. Ascanius yet that waxeth fast behold.

1575.  Turberv., Faulconrie, 358. You must beware that you take them not before they are somewhat woxen.

1677.  in Ray’s Corresp. (1848), 127. I think they [salmon] wax for five or six years.

1875.  F. I. Scudamore, Day Dreams, 63. For a time he [the French pig] grows and waxes in his stye.

1887.  Morris, Odyss., XI. 311–2. And when nine years they were waxen, nine cubits length outright Was the measure of their bigness.

1889.  N. W. Linc. Gloss., s.v., Thy bairn waxes fast, she’s taller ivery time I see her.

  † b.  of a part of the body, the hair, etc. Obs.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 434. His feax weox swa swa wimmanna.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7257. Wexen was sumdel his hare.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9224. Here cloþes ne roted, ne nayles grewe, Ne heere ne wax.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., IV. met. iii. (1886), 95. Þat oother is chaunged in to a lyoun … and hise nayles and hise teth wexen.

1548–72.  Vicary, Anat., ii. (1888), 24. The Nayles … are alwayes waxing in the extremitie of the fyngers and toes.

  † c.  Of a morbid growth or disease: To arise and develop on or in the body. Obs.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., I. 118. Gif nebcorn on wifmannes nebbe wexen.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 288. Þeonne … þer waxeð wunde & deopeð into þe soule.

a. 1400–50.  Stockh. Med. MS., 117. For angenayll þat waxin in feet.

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 100. A surgian muste þanne be bisy in al þat he myȝte, þat a crampe ne wexe not in þe wounde.

  † 3.  Of a company, host, people: To increase in numbers. Obs.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. 109. Dryhten cuæð to Noe & to his bearnum: Weahsað ʓe & moniʓfaldiad & ʓefyllað eorðan.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 999. And a hi leton heora feonda wærod wexan.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 3947. Þatt heoffness here mihhte swa þurrh hallȝhe sawless waxenn.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3259. Wexinge euere beþ vre fon, bi water & bi londe.

13[?].  K. Alis., 6023 (Laud MS.). Now gynneþ his Oost fast to wexe.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1255. Þey wil waxe & we schal wanye; When we ben fewe, þey schol be manye.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 1485. Cryst of heuene ȝow alle saue my messagers alle sixe! & ȝut þe vij schulle ȝe haue ȝour felaschip to make wixe.

1581.  Mulcaster, Positions, xxxvii. (1887), 148. Will ye haue the multitude waxe, where the maintenance waines?

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., xiii. 26. Her people wexing still, and wanting where to build.

a. 1656.  Ussher, Ann. (1658), 1. Then blessing them, he bade them wex and multiply.

  4.  Of a person, nation, institution: To advance in power, importance, prosperity, etc. Const. in, † on.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1052. Þa wæx hit [sc. the minster] swiðe on land & on gold & on seolfer.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 10868. I whillc mann … Birrþ … þrifenn aȝȝ & waxenn aȝȝ Inn alle gode þinge. Ibid., 17967. Ned iss … Þatt he nu forrþwarrd waxe, & ec iss ned & god off me, Þatt I nu forrþwarrd wannse.

1340.  Ayenb., 26. Al-huet þanne þet hi byþ uol wexe and heȝe ycliue ine dyngnetes.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 1656. Al-so mot y waxe.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., III. viii. 322. Sithen the chirche wexid in dignitees, he decrecid in vertues.

1567–9.  Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 32. Mali proficiunt: Boni deficiunt: The wicked wax: the godly wane.

1597.  Bp. Hall, Sat., III. i. 44. Now man, that earst Haile-fellow was with beast, Woxe on to weene himself a God at least.

1607.  Shaks., Cor., II. ii. 103. His Pupill age Man-entred thus, he waxed like a Sea.

1624.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Praise Clean Linen, Ded. Hee is a firme and stable man, and waxeth much oftner then hee wanes.

1690.  Child, Disc. Trade, Pref. (B 2 b). Land and Trade, which are Twins, and have always, and ever will wax and wane together.

1864.  Tennyson, Boädicea, 40. Thou shalt wax and he shall dwindle.

1873.  Burton, Hist. Scot., VI. lxviii. 112. A democratic party equally hostile to them was waxing in size and strength.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 54. The nation waxed in freedom and friendship and communion of soul.

1876.  Morris, Sigurd, II. 85. Now waxeth the son of Sigmund in might and goodliness.

1914.  H. H. Henson, War-time Serm., xix. 244. Elmham waned as Norwich waxed.

  5.  Of inanimate things: To increase in size, quantity, volume, intensity, etc. Of water, the sea: To rise, swell; to flow out in a flood. Of day or daylight, night: To grow longer.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 245. Þæt wæter weox oþ mannes swuran.

1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.). Hi sæʓon on norðeast fir micel & brad wið þone eorðe, & weax on lengþe up on an to þam wolcne.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 1901. Marrchess nahhtess wannsenn aȝȝ, & Marrchess daȝhess waxenn. Ibid., 1918. O þatt daȝȝ biginneþ uss Þe daȝȝess lihht to waxenn. Ibid., 2472. Hire wambe siþþenn toc To waxenn alls itt birrde.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 124. Þer ase muchel fur is, kundeliche hit waxeð mid winde.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 599. Dunes wexen, ðe flod wiðdroȝ.

c. 1290.  St. James, 136, in S. Eng. Leg., 38. Þe ston bi-gan to wexe a-brod and holuȝ bi-cam a-midde.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6562. Þe se flode … bigan to wexi uaste ase it deþ atte tide.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1775. Þe water wex oute ouer þe plains.

c. 1325.  Spec. Gy Warw., 1001. Þi mele ne shal wante noht, And þin oyle shal waxen.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., I. vii. 398. The watters wox as thai war wod.

c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 158. It [the chain] wexeth in hys honde & multyplyethe swyde.

c. 1500.  Chaucer’s Dreme, 1550. Wexing the se, comming the flode.

1820.  Scott, Monast., v. Whereby I may be obliged to take the river, which I observed to be somewhat waxen.

1869.  A. Mclaren, Serm., Ser. II. xi. 201. Energy which wanes as the years wax.

1884.  Spectator, 2 Aug., 1009/2. Glaciers … wax and wane in some mysterious manner.

1888.  F. Hume, Mme. Midas, I. iv. Whereon the sacred fire should be kept constantly burning, waxing and waning with the seasons.

  6.  Of the moon: To undergo the periodical increase in the extent of its visible illuminated portion, characteristic of the first half of the lunation.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 17. Þonne he [the moon] wexeþ, he bið ʓelic þæm godum men þe ahopað to þæm ecean leohte.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., I. 154. Se mona deð æʓðer ʓe wycxð ʓe wanað: healfum monðe he bið weaxende, healfum he bið waniʓende.

a. 1225, c. 1386. c. 1440.  [see WANE v. 2].

1591.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iv. 760. Tho wexing us-ward, heav’n-ward thou dost wane.

1781.  Cowper, Expost., 324. States thrive or wither, as moons wax and wane.

1859.  Jephson, Brittany, viii. 110. Twelve moons had waxed and waned.

1865.  Tylor, Early Hist. Man., vi. 133. Grafts are to be set while the moon is waxing.

1914.  H. Newbolt, in Blackw. Mag., Aug., 177/1. The moon was now waxing fast.

  7.  Of a quality, state of things, activity, wealth, etc.: To become gradually greater or more striking; to increase in potency or intensity.

Beowulf, 1741. Oð þæt him on innan oferhyʓda dæl weaxeð ond wridað.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxxiii. 217. Æʓhwelces lareowes lar wihxð [Cott. wihst] ðurh his ʓeðylde.

  c. 1200.  Ormin, 3949. Þurrh whatt biforenn Drihhtin Godd Wurrþshipe waxenn shollde.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 689. Wit west among his sore An for his sore hit is þe more.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1268. Abimalech saȝ abraham, Hu welðe him wex and migte cam.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19399. Godds word wex fast and greu.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 737. His langure gan wex.

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, I. 17. When so his furie woxe, from skies he did me thro Down by the foote.

1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. IV. Handie-Crafts, 560. His Art, still wexing, sweetly marrieth His quavering fingers to his warbling breath.

1624.  Quarles, Job Militant, i. 13. As did his Name, his Wealth did daily wex.

1627.  Drayton, Agincourt, cxcii. Now wexed horror to the very height.

1855.  Motley, Dutch Rep., IV. iv. III. 65. Moreover, the discord among the Reformers themselves waxed daily.

  b.  in contrast with wane or † wanze.

13[?].  Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 263. Worldes catel passet sone, Þat wacset & wansit rit as te mone.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 3. And so my witte wex and wanyed til I a fole were.

1601.  2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., V. iv. 2203. My fortunes cannot wax but they may waine.

1711.  Pope, Temple Fame, 486. Some [lies] to remain, and some to perish soon; Or wane and wax alternate like the moon.

1809–10.  Coleridge, Friend, xiv. (1865), 63. Its impulses wax as its motives wane.

1826.  Wordsw., ‘Once I could hail,’ 42. In that domain Where joys are perfect—neither wax nor wane.

1899.  E. J. Chapman, Drama of Two Lives, 9.

  † 8.  a. Of a quality, activity, event, etc.: To come into being, spring up, begin, arise, occur. Also with up. Of the day: To appear, dawn. Obs.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., v. § 3. Of ðam ðonne onginnað weaxan þa mistas ðe þæt mod ʓedrefað.

1154.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1140. Þer efter wæx suythe micel uuerre betuyx þe king & Randolf eorl of Cæstre.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 3. Hu muche god mihte of inker streon waxen.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 273. An wid ðat pride him wex a nyð.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1713. Bituene þe romeins & þis lond þer wax þo striuing.

c. 1300.  K. Horn, 1452 (Laud). Þe day by gan to wexe.

c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 3327. Þer wex a kene crie.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter xxvi. 6. If … temptacyons wax ageynes me.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., I. pr. vi. (1886), 18. Of which false opyniouns the dirkenesse of perturba[ciouns] wexit [Addit. MS. wexeþ] vp.

c. 1425.  Engl. Conq. Ireland, xi. 26. In thys whyle, wax a grett wreth & a grete stryfe betwyx þe kyng of Connaght, & donoll Obreyn.

  † b.  To wax forth, to be born or created. Obs.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. X. 33. For wiþ word þat he warp woxen forþ Beestes.

  II.  With complement: To change by growth or increase, to become. (Cf. GROW v. 12.)

  9.  a. With adj. complement: (a) With more or less of the idea of growth or increase: To become gradually, grow.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 2479. Þatt ȝho wass waxenn summ del græt & tatt ȝho wass wiþþ childe.

a. 1300.  Leg. Rood, ii. 133. So þat wiþþinne þritti ȝer þis tre wox wel heie.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A 538. Þe sunne was doun & hit wex late.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, VIII. 237. Þe Scottes wex [v.r. wuxe] strenger and strenger.

a. 1400.  Octouian, 670. Florent ys x. yere old and fyyf, And heghe y-woxe.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 243. The medys wixen grene.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., i. 163. Bryng ye furth and wax ye mo.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 241 b. Signifiyng … the dayes to have weaxed longer.

1560.  Bible (Geneva), Deut. xxxii. 15. But he that shulde haue bene vpright, when he waxed fat, spurned with his hele [1611 Jesurun waxed fat, and kicked].

1562.  A. Brooke, Romeus & Jul., 209. This sodain kindled fyre in time is wox so great.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 32. Till that her sisters children, woxen strong Through proud ambition, against her rebeld.

1651.  R. Child, in Hartlib’s Legacy (1655), 64. According as your plants are waxen strong.

1764.  H. Walpole, Otranto, v. Manfred … pushed on the feast until it waxed late.

1836–7.  Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., xxxvii. (1870), II. 335. By degrees, our conception waxes fuller.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., viii. § 6. 525. The panic waxed greater when it was found they claimed to be acting by the King’s commission.

1881.  Besant & Rice, Chapl. Fleet, I. 15. Even the foxes and their cubs … had of late waxed fat and lazy.

  (b)  Without the idea of growth or increase: To become, turn. (Sometimes used with reference to a sudden or immediate change.)

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 151. If he [the adder] cloðed man se, Cof he waxeð.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3563. His blode þan wexus dri and cald.

13[?].  K. Horn, 302 (Harl.). Vpon Athulf childe rymenild con waxe wilde.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xxiv. 12. The charite of manye schal wexe coold.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 34. Whan he wax seke, thei woxen seke.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 213. Yf the messager wix dronke.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Blanchardyn, xx. 64. Þe proude lady … wexed red as a rose.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, II. viii. 78. The wyde hallis wolx patent [L. atria longa patescunt].

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 344. Y^e people … whished & weaxed dumme.

1545.  Raynalde, Byrth Mankynde, 127. Take fyne meale, and bake … tyll it waxe browne.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 76. What? Art thou like the Adder waxen deafe?

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 183. Cornwall … waxeth smaller and smaller in manner of an horne.

1627.  Drayton, Agincourt, cxliii. Nor aske of God the victory to gaine, Vpon the English wext so poore and fewe.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., I. 29. Deuotion waxed scant amongst the Christians.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 276, ¶ 4. My Daughter Tabitha beginneth to wax wanton.

a. 1770.  Jortin, Serm. (1774), I. ii. 30. When … the inward light waxes dim, the faith is gone.

1815.  Byron, Vis. Belshazzar, iii. All bloodless wax’d his look.

1820.  Keats, Hyperion, I. 326. Pale wox I, and in vapours hid my face.

1831.  Macaulay, Ess., Byron, ¶ 11. The howl of contumely … gradually waxed fainter.

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, xxxviii. Mr. Chuckster waxed wroth at this answer.

1865.  Trollope, Belton Est., xxiv. 283. Captain Aylmer saw that the man was waxing angry.

1880.  W. Watson, Prince’s Quest (1892), 61. Whereat the eyes of heaven wox thundrous.dim.

  † b.  with sb. as complement. Obs.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 281. Þe kinges douther bigan þriue, And wex þe fayrest woman on liue.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2931. Þe white beres þat waxen seþþe hertes.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, V. 1014. Whan it was woxen eeue.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. xvi. 243. Summe othere … weren quycker in natural witt and waxiden better philsophiris.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 22. He sawe a peyntour that was waxe a physicien.

1530.  Palsgr., 793. Whan any proposycion waxeth an adverbe.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 334. He weaxed a woondreous buisie medler in all causes.

a. 1500.  A pore helpe, 269, in Hazl., E. P. P., III. 262. I feare me he be wext A popistant stout.

1593.  Nashe, Christs T., M 3. In three Tearmes, of a banqrout he wexeth a great landed man.

1622.  Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., I. 21. It beginning now to waxe night, they gaue off play.

1869.  Thirlwall, Serm., Rem. 1878, III. 390. When the grain of mustard seed has waxed a great tree.

  c.  with complement an adv. or a prepositional phr.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19451. Þan wex þaa wreches vte of wite.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 140. He wex to a werwolf.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 111. In a were gan I waxe and with myself to dispute.

1388.  Wyclif, Mark iv. 32. It waxith in to a tre.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 10824. Oft in wanton werkes wex þai with childe.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 4551. Þe meyst … woxse in to so fayre and so bryȝt a day.

1530.  Palsgr., 773/1. I dare eate no crabbes, for my tethe wyll waxe an edge than.

1591.  Spenser, M. Hubberd, 1103. Whereby the Ape in wondrous stomack woxe.

1831.  G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, xxvii. It was now waxing towards morning.

1864.  Burton, Scot Abr., II. i. 78. A dangerous position, apt to wax from pleasant warmth into deadly heat.

1870.  M. D. Conway, Earthward Pilgr., i. 21. As time waxed on, I perceived that our city was not only growing in size, but altering its character.

1888.  Stevenson, Across the Plains, x. (1892), 276. A small taste … waxes with indulgence into an exclusive passion.

1914.  S. Phillips, in Contemp. Rev., Oct., 552.

  † d.  To wax in age or eld, to advance in years. Similarly, to wax to man’s estate. Obs.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 943. A weih woxen on elde.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 727. That, as they wex in age, wex here loue.

a. 1400.  St. Alexius (Laud 622), 136. Þe more he wex in elde & lengþe, To seruen god he dude his strengþe.

1588.  Greene, Pandosto (1607), D 1 b. As it [sc. the child] waxed in age, so it increased in beautie.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 20. When her sonne to mans estate did wex.

1916.  G. W. Robinson, Willibald’s Life St. Boniface, ii. 31. After he waxed in age … and the glory of boyhood came.

  † e.  Of fire. To wax out: to burn out, be extinguished for want of fuel. Obs.

c. 1400.  Melayne, 463. The fire wexe owte at þ^e laste.

1579.  L. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 686/2. If a fire that hath but little woode, wax out, wee put the brandes together, and blowe it, that it may burne.

  † 10.  With complement a numeral: To amount to (a specified number). Obs.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace, 13327. A legion ys of folk þat wex Sex þousand, sex hundred sexti & sex. Ibid., 13937.