Middle English Dictionary Entry
waxen v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | waxen v.(2) Also wax; p. waxed, wexed(e; ppl. waxed, iwaxed(e, waxud, wexed, iwexed(e. |
| Etymology | From wax n.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To coat (sth.) with wax; fill in incisions in (a wax tablet) with wax; also, coat (sth. with a waxlike substance) [quot. a1486]; ppl. waxed, coated with wax; filled in with wax;
(b) to saturate (sth.) with wax;
(c) to stop up (a hole), plug;—also without obj.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.235 : Damarachus…wroot al þe kynges purpos in tables of tre and wexed þe tables aboue þe writynge [Higd.(2): couerenge the writenge with wexe].
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)68/387 : Þerfore in a waxed table He wrot þat alle men…schulde preiȝe God witerly Þat ache to hele.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)318a/a : Tables ben y-wexed and y-hight wiþ wex and ben y-planed.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)36/3 : Þilke þred schal be twyned, & wiþoute knotte, & I-wexid [vr. ywaxide].
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)72 : Ther byn…mene hornes of ii maners; That oo manere is wexed with grene wex…þat it be wel wexed [vr. ywexede], þikker or þinner after as þe hunter þenkeþ þat it wil best soune.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)13b/a : Cerate: waxed [Add 33534: Waxud] tables.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)518 : Waxyn, wythe waxe: Cero.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.40.26 : Tho tok I and waxed [vr. wexede] my label in manere of a peire tables to receyve distinctly the prickes of my compas.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)779 : Waxe he toke clere and bryght, And sone a fyre he hath hym dyght, And wexed his hondes by the fyre.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)149/10 : Take a bryd spytte & bryn hym as ye seme tyll it be to thyne entente in a maner as a tapur of wax & wax hym.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)63a/b : Loke þat þilke þreed be riȝt smoþe & wel y-twyned wiþouten knottis & wel wexid.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)137a : To Wax: Cerere.
- a1486 Arms Chivalry (Mrg M 775)43 : The armynge poyntis…muste be wexid with cordeweneris coode, and than they woll neythir recche nor breke.
- c1500(1446) Morstede Surgery (Hrl 1736)115 : Take a waxed thred and do the pacyent hold yt oun end ther of by the tethe.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)318a/a : For dyuers vse lynnene cloþes beþ y-wexed [L incerantur].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)165a/a : Þat it [cautery] be applied alsone in þe place assigned wiþ in a cercle made of a webbe ycered or waxed.
c
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.192 : He…bleuȝ þe rounde ryuet at þe riggebones ende, And alle…held here nose aftir And wisshide it hadde be wexid [C vrr. ywaxed, i-wexed] wiþ a wysp of firsen.
- a1500 Sln.962 Diseases Horse (Sln 962)95 : Take mouseres and stamp it and take ye iuys and put it in ye hole of ye cloyng and wax.