Obs. Also wexen, weaxen.
In several writers of the 16th c. (chiefly poetical) the forms waxen, wexen occur for WAX v.1, but only in those parts of the verb (inf. and 3rd pers. pl. present) in which these were in ME. the normal infected forms of wax. This may sometimes be due to intentional grammatical archaism; but when these forms are used by writers whose grammar is in all other respects normal, it seems probable that the inflexional waxen in quotations from older writers was mistaken for a verb synonymous but not identical with wax. It has been thought desirable to give here all the examples in our material, in order that their individual significance may be judged of by comparison. The 17th-c. quots. from H. More, which are added for completeness, are of course intentionally archaistic.
1540. Cranmer, Bible, Prol. ☩ j b. Anone … theyr consciences bene admonished, and they waxen sory & ashamed of the facte.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 4. And contrariewise, what thynges been moste honest the same weaxen also moste pleasaunt, yf a man haue been accustomed into theim.
1562. A. Brooke, Romeus & Jul., 1039. The courage of the Mountagewes, by Romeus sight doth growe, The townes men waxen strong, the prince doth send his force.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., III. 852. This Licabs chappes did waxen wide. his nose-thrils waxed flat. Ibid. (1567), xiv. 327. I felt a hooked groyne Too wexen hard vppon my mouth.
1584. Peele, Arraign. Paris, V. i. Then first gan Cupids eysight wexen dim.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 56. And then the whole quire hold their hips, and loffe, And waxen in their mirth.
1590. Vallans, Tale Two Swans (1744), p. ix. As these Swannes began to waxen old.
1594. Barnfield, Sheph. Content (Arb.), 30. When their fleeces gin to waxen rough.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, I. i. 3. What man … Would woxen [1647 wexen] wroth. Ibid. (1647), Cupids Confl., lxxv. This is the measure of mans industry To wexen some body and getten grace To ’s outward presence.
