One way to hold this word: a pale, slightly greasy substance that is drawn out of petroleum or coal and keeps to itself. Warm it and it runs as a thin, almost colourless oil. Let it cool and it sets into a soft white block. In either state it burns steadily and reacts with the things around it very slowly, which is why people trust it in a lamp, in a candle, and over the top of a jar of jam.
The name records that quiet character: Latin parum 'too little' plus affinis 'related', so 'having little affinity' — it does not readily join with other substances.
名字本身就在講這個個性：拉丁文 parum（太少）加 affinis（有關係），合起來是「很少跟別的東西攀關係」。當年命名的人看上的，正是它幾乎不起化學反應。
Wiktionary entry for paraffin, supplied in the evidence packet (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:901083329:11861)
Three branches
冷掉以後的那一塊：蠟
這一組就是核心畫面的固體形態：放涼凝結的那一塊白色的蠟，以及把這塊蠟用到別的東西上的動作。
noun · B2
A soft white solid made from petroleum or coal. It melts with gentle heat and is used to make candles, to seal jars, and to coat or waterproof things. It is often called paraffin wax.
石蠟
加熱以後的那一攤：燈油
同一團東西的液體形態。因為它燒得穩又不亂反應，所以被拿去點燈、取暖。這個名稱被標成英式、愛爾蘭用法，其他地方常用別的字。
noun · B2
A thin, almost colourless oil made from petroleum or coal, which is burned in lamps, heaters and small stoves. This is the British and Irish name for it.
煤油；燈油
它所屬的化學家族
從「這一團東西」跳到「這一群化合物」。命名的理由沒變，還是反應慢；只是指的範圍從手上的蠟塊擴大到整個烷類家族。
noun · C2
In chemistry, any member of the alkane group of hydrocarbons — for example methane, propane or butane. It is usually used in the plural: paraffins.
烷類（烷烴）