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wax

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

To grow or increase gradually in size, strength, or intensity; to become, as in "wax poetic" meaning to become eloquent; opposite of wane, especially regarding the moon's phases.

Detailed Definition
“Wax” conveys growth—waxing moon, waxing bold. In poetry, it symbolizes ascent or transformation. The term’s simplicity suits natural cycles. Poets use it to explore how things evolve, where waxing marks potential or danger, reinforcing themes of change, power, and the fluidity of being in meditative and narrative contexts.
Example
Example in poetry:
“The moon began to wax,” in a cyclical image; In Shakespeare: “Wax not proud, though fortune smile”; “Her courage waxed with each trial”; “The wax of time seals memory”; “Wax the bowstring for the hunt”; The poet’s fame waxed with each verse.
Additional Notes
“Wax” means to grow (“wax strong”) or become (“wax pale”); in poetic transformation scenes, it tracks emotional or physical change, often paired with “wane” to illustrate cyclical dynamics of increase and decrease.
Also Known As
grow increase enlarge pomade
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