waxy
Meaning
Having a smooth, pale, slightly shiny surface like wax.
Resembling wax in texture or appearance.
(informal, of a person) Becoming pale and ill-looking, especially near death.
Structure
Usage
The floor had a waxy shine after it was polished.
The artist used a waxy crayon for the drawing.
His skin took on a waxy pallor as his illness progressed.
Etymology
The word 'waxy' is a straightforward English formation, combining the native noun 'wax' with the productive adjectival suffix '-y'. The noun 'wax' itself has ancient roots, descending from Old English weax, which can be traced back through Proto-Germanic to a probable Proto-Indo-European source. The suffix '-y', also of Old English origin, is a versatile tool for creating descriptive terms. Therefore, 'waxy' literally means "having the qualities of wax," a sense which has been extended metaphorically to describe pallid, sickly complexions that visually resemble the color and sheen of pale wax.
Analysis
wax: From Old English weax, meaning the substance produced by bees. Its Proto-Germanic origin is wahsam, and its Proto-Indo-European root is likely wokso-, meaning "wax". y: A native English suffix from Old English -ig, used to form adjectives meaning "full of" or "having the quality of".