| a resinous preparation, soft when heated, used for sealing letters, documents, etc. |
seal·ing wax  (sē'lĭng)  n. A resinous preparation of shellac and turpentine that is soft and fluid when heated but solidifies upon cooling, used to seal letters, batteries, or jars. |
sealing wax
substance formerly in wide use for sealing letters and attaching impressions of seals to documents. In medieval times it consisted of a mixture of beeswax, Venice turpentine, and colouring matter, usually vermilion; later lac from Indonesia supplanted the beeswax. The wax was prepared by melting and stirring, and the molten mixture was poured into stick-shaped molds. The mold was then held over the envelope or document to be sealed, a candle or other flame was applied, and the resulting drop pressed with a die containing the seal
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