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Coax vs Cox - What's the difference?

coax | cox |

As a verb coax

is (obsolete) to fondle, kid, pet, tease.

As a noun coax

is (obsolete) a simpleton; a dupe or coax can be .

As an adjective cox is

much, many, plenty.

coax

English

Etymology 1

originally (1586) in the slang phrase to make a coax of , from earlier noun coax, cox, cokes "fool, simpleton", itself of obscure origin, perhaps related to cock (male bird, pert boy). The modern spelling is from 1706.

Verb

  • (obsolete) To fondle, kid, pet, tease.
  • To wheedle, persuade (a person, organisation, animal etc.) gradually or by use of flattery to do something.
  • * , chapter=6
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=She was so mad she wouldn't speak to me for quite a spell, but at last I coaxed her into going up to Miss Emmeline's room and fetching down a tintype of the missing Deacon man.}}
  • * 12 July 2012 , Sam Adams, AV Club Ice Age: Continental Drift
  • On paper, Continental Drift boasts a jaw-dropping voice cast, including but not limited to Jennifer Lopez, Patrick Stewart, Wanda Sykes, Aziz Ansari, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Alan Tudyk. But in practice, the overstuffed ensemble leaves the cast no room to distinguish themselves, and directors Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeier don’t seem interested in coaxing performances that might render their money stars less identifiable.
  • To carefully manipulate into a particular desired state, situation or position.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
  • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame.}}
    Synonyms
    * (persuade gradually) cajole, persuade, wheedle * (manipulate carefully into position) ease

    Noun

    (es)
  • (obsolete) A simpleton; a dupe.
  • (Beaumont and Fletcher)

    Etymology 2

    Shortened from coaxial

    Noun

    (coaxial cable) (es)
  • References

    * [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=coax&searchmode=none]

    Anagrams

    * English heteronyms ----

    cox

    English

    Noun

    (coxes)
  • A coxswain of a boat, especially of a racing crew.
  • Derived terms

    * coxless

    Verb

    (es)
  • To act as coxswain for.
  • The physicist Stephen Hawking used to cox a college rowing team.

    Anagrams

    * ----