What Does It Mean to 'Wax Poetic' and Where Did the Moon Have a Say in It?
The Linguistic Alchemy of 'Waxing Poetic'
When someone begins to speak at length about a subject with dramatic flair, elevated vocabulary, or deep emotional resonance, we often say they are "waxing poetic." But what is the wax in question? Is it related to candles, honeycombs, or floor polish? Surprisingly, no.
The Etymology: Growing, Not Shining
The secret to the phrase lies in the verb "wax," which in modern English is almost exclusively associated with beeswax, hair removal, or surfboards. However, historically, "wax" (from the Old English weaxan) meant "to grow, increase, or become."
This root is of Proto-Germanic origin and is closely related to the German wachsen and the Dutch wassen. Its most famous modern survival is found in lunar terminology: the "waxing moon" refers to the moon as it grows from a crescent toward a full moon.
Therefore, to "wax poetic" literally means "to grow poetic"—to swell or expand into a state of poetry.
Historical Evolution and Usage
While the exact pairing "wax poetic" solidified more prominently in American and British English during the 19th and 20th centuries, the construction "to wax [adjective]" has centuries-old roots in English literature.
- William Shakespeare frequently utilized the verb to denote transition or psychological shifts. In Hamlet, the Prince remarks on a player's performance, while the verb appears elsewhere to describe emotional growth or decline.
- The King James Bible (1611) is replete with the construction, using phrases like "wax fat," "wax bold," and "wax cold" to describe shifting states of being or moral fiber.
Over time, most iterations of "to wax + adjective" faded into archaism, save for a few stubborn survivors like waxing eloquent and waxing poetic.
Psychological and Cultural Nuance
From a psychological perspective, when a person "waxes poetic," they are shifting from transactional, utilitarian communication to associative, metaphorical thinking. This transition often reflects heightened emotional engagement, nostalgia, or an unconscious desire to elevate a mundane topic into something mythic or deeply meaningful. In social dynamics, waxing poetic can signal deep passion—or, if overdone, mild pretentiousness.