Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Waxing and Waning
Waxing and Waning Waxing and Waning Waxing and Waning By Maeve Maddox The most familiar use of the verbs wax and wane is in reference to the states of the moon. To wax is to grow. To wane is to diminish. The moon has four phases, also called quarters. During the first two quarters, the moon is said ââ¬Å"to waxâ⬠as its light increases. During the third and fourth quarters, as its light decreases, the moon is said ââ¬Å"to wane.â⬠The verbs wax and wane are often used to describe the growing and lessening of interest in a subject: My interestà in Shakespeare has alwaysà waxedà and waned.à Sadly, as my interest waxed, the interest of my sponsor appeared to wane. My interestà in carsà began to waneà in direct relationship to the run-up in prices. In writing and speech, the verb wax may be followed by an adjective to describe the manner in which something is being said. ââ¬Å"To wax poeticâ⬠is to speak with enthusiasm and hyperbole on a favorite subject: A grizzledà Newà Orleans bartenderà waxing poeticà onà hisà favorite drink, the Mint Julip, as he makesà hisà last one. Apple brilliantlyà waxes poeticà inà newà iPad Air ad Prabal Gurung Waxed Poetic About His Militant Women Similar in meaning is the expression ââ¬Å"to wax lyricalâ⬠: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger talks up Jackson Martinez transfer after waxing lyrical about the Porto forward Like Spengler, theyà waxed lyrical aboutà war and violence ââ¬Å"as the superior form of human existence.â⬠à Feelings of angry disdain are expressed by the phrase ââ¬Å"to wax indignantâ⬠: General Grant waxed indignantà atà hisà fathers crass attempt to profit fromà hisà sons military [success]. Do not weep; do not wax indignant. Understand.- Baruch Spinoza House Speaker Robert DeLeo waxed indignant Wednesday, forcefully denying claims by federal prosecutors that he let fellow legislators fill jobs in the Probation Department in exchange for their votes for the speakership. Wax is also used in reference to less passionate states of feeling. For example, one can wax silent or sentimental: Agnesà waxed silent, pleased most with the joy of her own thoughts.à Anrion waxed silent as a couple strolled beside them, waiting until they had walked a safe distance away before asking, ââ¬Å"Have you ever heard of Eregion?â⬠Justice Thomas waxed sentimental about the good old days when teachers managed classrooms with an iron hand. Cobos waxed sentimental about being a country boy and announced that this was why he and his wife moved to the Upper Valley themselves. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Arrive To vs. Arrive At"Certified" and "Certificated"Phrasal Verbs and Phrasal Nouns
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