Waxing irritated at dictionary compilers
Posted by TheFallen on June 13, 2003
In Reply to: Waxing Poetic posted by masakim on June 13, 2003
: : : I'm trying to find a good definition for 'Waxing Poetic'
: : : I did a search on the archives here, no luck, and have checked
around google. I know what it means but I'd like to find a well
written def. TIA
: : My opinion. "Waxing" = becoming poetic or assuming a state of being poetic. Definition No. 3 (Merriam-Webster online):
: : WAX
: : Date: before 12th century
: : 1 a : to increase in size, numbers, strength, prosperity, or
intensity b : to grow in volume or duration c : to grow toward full
development
: : 2 : to increase in phase or intensity -- used chiefly of the
moon, other satellites, and inferior planets
: : 3 : to assume a (specified) characteristic, quality, or state
: BECOME
: See The Mavens' Word of the Day at
: www.randomhouse.com/
wotd/index.pperl?date=20000921
This one has always irritated me, and here's why.
I've always objected to definition #3, because in my view it's both superfluous and in a way wrong. Definition #2 happily covers things, because one can easily translate "to increase in phase or intensity" as "to grow" or even simpler "to become MORE". To wax poetic simply means to become more poetic - to a point that's both noticeable and worth remarking on, I suppose.
Wax in this sense comes to us from the German verb wachsen, which also simply means to grow.
- The limits of waxing R. Berg
06/13/03
- The limits of waxing TheFallen
06/14/03
- The limits of waxing R.
Berg 06/14/03
- The limits of waxing janes_kid 06/14/03
- The limits of waxing janes_kid 06/14/03
- The limits of waxing R.
Berg 06/14/03
- The limits of waxing TheFallen
06/14/03