English

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Etymology

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From wax +‎ work.

Noun

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waxwork (countable and uncountable, plural waxworks)

  1. (countable) A figure made of wax, especially an effigy of a famous person.
    • 1885, Gilbert & Sullivan, The Mikado:
      The amateur tenor, whose vocal villainies / All desire to shirk, / Shall during off-hours, / Exhibit his powers / To Madame Tussaud's waxwork.
  2. (uncountable) The art of producing such figures.
    • 1926, R. Austin Freeman, The D'Arblay Mystery:
      Waxwork is a fine art, but it differs from all other fine arts in that its main purpose is one that is expressly rejected by all those other arts.

Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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Further reading

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