the word "wax"

not sure.

i know that "wax mah legs" means that you wanna lose some hair though.

(just a joke)

The word means to increase gradually in size or in intensity. Examples: "He waxed more and more eloquent as the evening wore on." "It's a waxing moon" means it's growing toward the full moon. "I waxed sentimental, hearing that song." The word in that sense has been in the English language forever. It derives from the Old English weaxan and ultimately from an ancient Indo-European root.

Merry certainly waxed on with that definition.

how does "ear wax" fit in here ? i think i'll have to have mine blasted out again with a pressure hose .what fun that will be ! hbg

makes sense, thanks Merry

I don't think it makes sense at all. To wax poetic...that means to gradually get more and more poetic? Oh, yeah, I guess that does make sense. But how about "wax nostalgic"? That means to get more and more nostalgic? Oh, wait...

Different etymology for that type of "wax", hbg.

Oh great. Now I have to go look up etymology...

Bastard.

Good thing he waxed on instead of waxed off.

The basic meaning of the verb "wax" is "to grow", which comes from Old English, as MA said. It is a close cousin of the German verb wachsen which means exactly the same. It is unrelated to the noun wax as in earwax or beeswax

In any phrase where the verb is used, you can substitute "grow" and you'll see that the phrase still makes sense - e.g. "wax nostalgic" or "wax and wane".

By the way, there's a word for pairs of words like this, words that look identical but have a different meaning and origin. Can anyone remember what it is?

homonyms

homonyms....aren't they little chocolate thingies, covered in bright colours?

No, no, Ell. You're thinking of homunculus. Homonym marriage, however, is getting world-wide consideration nowadays in a number of countries. Listening to the BBC Overseas Service this morning, I learn that my native Latvia is now consider making it an official 'human right.' But I wax garrulous.

I hope garrulous doesn't mind.

No, in fact, Garrulous and I are more than just friends.

syntinen wrote : " The basic meaning of the verb "wax" is "to grow", which comes from Old English, as MA said. It is a close cousin of the German verb wachsen which means exactly the same. It is unrelated to the noun wax as in earwax or beeswax "

...but the wax is growing in my ear !

(btw earwax is called "ohren-schmalz" in german -
if you ever visit germany, that's a good way to start a conversation)