Where do the terms waxing and waning come from?

Have you ever heard of the terms waxing and waning? These words are commonly used to describe the phases of the moon. Waxing refers to the period when the moon’s visible surface increases from a crescent to a full moon while waning is the time when the visible surface decreases from a full moon to a crescent moon. But have you ever wondered where these terms come from? In this blog post, we will explore the origins of the words waxing and waning.

The Origin of the Word “Waxing”

The term “waxing” comes from the Old English word “weaxan” which means to grow or increase. The word “weaxan” evolved into the Middle English word “waxen” which means to grow or become. Over time, the word “waxen” was used to describe the increasing size of the moon as it moves through its phases.

The Origin of the Word “Waning”

The term “waning” also comes from Old English. The word “wanian” means to diminish or decrease. The word “wanian” evolved into the Middle English word “wanen” which means to decrease or fade. Over time, the word “wanen” was used to describe the decreasing size of the moon as it moves through its phases.

Other Uses of Waxing and Waning

Besides the use of these terms in relation to the moon’s phases, “waxing” and “waning” have been used in other contexts as well. For example, “waxing” can be used to describe the growth or increase of anything, such as a business or an individual’s fame. Meanwhile, “waning” can be used to describe the decline or decrease of anything, such as a company’s profits or a person’s health.

The Origin and Meaning of the Terms Waxing and Waning

You’ve probably heard the terms waxing and waning before, but do you know where they come from or what they mean? These terms are commonly associated with the phases of the moon, but they have wider applications in science and culture. In this blog post, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the origin and meaning of waxing and waning.

What does waxing mean?

Waxing is a term that comes from the Old English word weaxan, which means “to grow” or “to increase.” When we use the term waxing today, we are referring to something that is increasing or growing in size, amount, or intensity. This term is often used to describe the phases of the moon when the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing between the new moon and full moon phases.

What does waning mean?

Like waxing, the term waning comes from Old English, specifically the word wanian, which means “to decrease” or “to diminish.” Waning is used to describe things that are getting smaller, weaker, or less intense. In the context of the moon, waning occurs during the phases between the full moon and new moon when the illuminated portion of the moon is decreasing.

Why are these terms associated with the moon?

The association between these terms and the moon dates back to ancient civilizations. The cycles of the moon were closely studied and observed by many cultures, from the Babylonians to the Mayans. These civilizations used the phases of the moon to track time and to plan agricultural activities. The waxing and waning of the moon is a readily observable natural phenomenon which made it easy for humans to create meaning from it.

What other fields are these terms used in?

While waxing and waning are commonly associated with the moon’s phases, they have also been adopted into other fields. For example, in horticulture, the terms are used to describe the growth of plants. A “waxing moon” in this context would be a time when plants are growing and putting on new leaves, while a “waning moon” would be a time when plants are losing leaves and experiencing a growth slowdown.

In finance, the terms can be used to describe the fluctuations of the stock market. A “waxing market” would be a market that is growing and increasing in value, while a “waning market” would be one that is decreasing in value.

Are there any cultural implications of these terms?

Waxing and waning have been used in literature, music, and art to convey a variety of emotions and ideas. In literature, the use of these terms can create a sense of anticipation or suspense. In music, the terms are used metaphorically to describe an increase or decrease in intensity or volume.

In some cultures, waxing and waning have been associated with life and death. The waxing moon is seen as a time of birth and growth, while the waning moon is associated with death and decay. These associations can be found in traditional folklore and mythology from around the world.

Where do the terms waxing and waning come from?

The terms ‘waxing’ and ‘waning’ are commonly used to describe the phases of the moon, but their origins go back much further in time. Let’s dive deep into the historical and linguistic background to uncover the roots of these fascinating terms.

What do waxing and waning mean?

Before we start exploring the origins of these terms, let’s first clarify what they mean. In simple terms, waxing means to increase or grow larger, while waning means to decrease or grow smaller. These terms are often associated with the moon, as its size and brightness appear to change over time.

The etymology of waxing and waning

The roots of the terms waxing and waning can be traced back to Latin, the ancient language of the Roman Empire. The Latin word for waxing is ‘crescere,’ which means ‘to grow.’ Similarly, the word for waning is ‘decrescere,’ which means ‘to decrease.’

As the Roman Empire expanded, the Latin language spread across Europe and eventually evolved into the medieval languages of the continent. In Old English, which was spoken in England from the 5th century until the Norman Conquest in 1066, the word for waxing was ‘weaxan,’ which meant ‘to grow.’ Likewise, the word for waning was ‘wanian,’ which meant ‘to decrease.’

The connection with the moon

While the terms waxing and waning originated in the Latin language and spread to the medieval languages of Europe, their association with the moon came much later. The first recorded use of the terms in relation to the moon was in the 14th century, during the Middle English period.

During this time, the moon was considered to have a significant influence on various aspects of life, including agriculture, navigation, and even human behavior. People believed that the position and phase of the moon could affect the growth of crops, the tides, and even their moods.

As a result, the terms waxing and waning were eventually adopted to describe the changing size and brightness of the moon throughout its monthly cycle. When the moon appears to be getting larger and brighter, it is said to be waxing, while when it appears to be getting smaller and dimmer, it is said to be waning.

Other uses of waxing and waning

While the terms waxing and waning are most commonly associated with the moon, they can also be used to describe other phenomena. For example, a waxing and waning fever is one that rises and falls in intensity over time, while the popularity of a trend or fashion can wax and wane over time as well.

In addition, the terms can be used metaphorically to describe the ebb and flow of various aspects of life, such as the economy, politics, or personal relationships. Just like the moon, these things often go through phases of growth and decline, sometimes in a predictable cycle and sometimes more chaotically.

In conclusion

In summary, the terms waxing and waning have their roots in the Latin language, where they meant ‘to grow’ and ‘to decrease,’ respectively. Over time, these terms became associated with the changing phases of the moon, and were eventually adopted to describe other phenomena as well. Today, they are still used to describe the cyclical nature of many things in life, and serve as a reminder of the interconnectedness and continuity of the universe.