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en·caus·tic

(ĕn-kôstĭk)

1. A paint consisting of pigment mixed with beeswax and fixed with heat after its application.

2. The art of painting with this substance.

3. A painting produced with the use of this substance.

[Latin encausticus, from Greek enkaustikos, from enkaiein, enkau-, to paint in encaustic : en-, in; see EN-² + kaiein, to burn.]

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encaustic

125-250 ad Egyptian funerary portrait

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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