sealing-wax
Definition
- Noun:
- A resinous substance that is softened by heating and used for sealing letters, documents, or packages. It is typically applied in a melted state and then stamped with a seal to create a secure closure or mark of authenticity.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- She melted the sealing-wax over the flame and dripped it onto the envelope. (The substance used for sealing was heated and applied.)
- The notary used a red sealing-wax to authenticate the official document. (A coloured resinous substance was used to certify the document’s validity.)
Advanced Usage
"to apply sealing-wax": to use the substance for sealing purposes.
- He applied sealing-wax to the parchment and pressed his family crest into it. (He melted and used the wax to close the parchment with a decorative stamp.)
"sealing-wax seal": the impression left in the wax after stamping.
- The sealing-wax seal bore the initials of the sender. (The mark in the wax showed the sender’s identity.)
Variants and Related Words
Sealing-wax (n): the substance itself; no common variant forms exist, but it is sometimes written as sealing wax (with a space).
- The antique desk drawer contained sticks of sealing-wax. (The substance was stored in solid form.)
Seal (n): the stamp or device used to impress the wax.
- He used a brass seal to create the design in the sealing-wax. (The tool left an imprint in the wax.)
Synonyms
- Wax: a general term for a solid, meltable substance, though specifically contains resin.
- Lac: a resinous substance historically used in sealing-wax, though less common in modern contexts.
Related Idioms
"To seal with wax": a phrase meaning to close or authenticate something using sealing-wax.
- The king’s decree was sealed with wax to prevent tampering. (The document was closed and certified using the substance.)
"As hard as sealing-wax": an idiom describing something that is firm or unyielding, referencing the solid state of cooled wax.
- His resolve was as hard as sealing-wax. (His determination was strong and unshakeable.)