-trix

Latin[edit]

This entry lacks etymological information. If you are familiar with the origin of this term, please add it to the page as described here.

-trīx f (genitive -trīcis); third declension

-ess, -rix; used to form a feminine agent noun
Used to form feminine versions of adjectives (in the same way as above), often with a poetic quality and/or a negative connotation

The suffix -trīx is added to a verb to create a third-declension feminine form of an agent noun.

Examples:

cantrīx (“female singer”); feminine counterpart of cantor (“male singer”), from canō (“I sing”)

tōnstrīx (“female hair cutter”); feminine counterpart of tōnsōr (“male hair cutter”), from tondeō (“I shear, shave”)

meretrīx (“prostitute", lit. "she who earns”), from mereō (“I merit, deserve, earn”)