Spreading a waxy substance on something to polish or protect it, or growing larger or increasing.
From Old English 'weaxan' meaning to grow or increase; when combined with 'wax' (the substance), it creates a verb meaning to coat with wax, while the 'growing' sense persists in moon phases.
The moon is 'waxing' when growing toward full and 'waning' when shrinking—these poetic terms show how we borrowed 'growing' and 'lessening' language from nature itself!
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