Cereous

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪəɹiəs/

Definitions

1. Resembling the appearance or texture of wax in various contexts
2. Having a smooth, shiny surface similar to that of wax
3. Exhibiting qualities characteristic of wax such as softness and a pale, glossy finish

Etymology: Before "cereous" described anything in English, the Romans had "cēra," their word for wax, the substance bees made and that was used for writing tablets, seals and candles. From it they built "cēreus," meaning made of wax or waxen. The adjective passed into English from Latin and kept its literal sense, so a cereous thing is one that looks or feels like wax. The modern meaning is a figurative extension of that physical sense. Wax is soft, pale and faintly glossy, and English writers used the comparison to describe skin, complexions and objects with a similar bloodless, smooth look. The word therefore carries the image of a waxen surface rather than the substance itself.