-trix

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See also: Trix

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From numerous Latinate feminine agent nouns.

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

-trix f (plural -trices)

  1. (dated) Found on the end of words, chiefly female agent nouns.

Usage notes[edit]

  • For masculine agent nouns ending in -tor, the feminine equivalent ending in -trix is the etymologically consistent form. However, -trix is relatively dated and not particularly productive in modern English, where either gender-neutral terms or other suffixes (notably -ess) are generally preferred, as in actress rather than dated actrix.
  • The term dominatrix is popular and, by analogy with it, -trix has gained some other use in erotic contexts, e.g. in masturbatrix.

Synonyms[edit]

Other feminine affixes:

Derived terms[edit]

  • Most of these derived terms were borrowed directly from Latin, rather than formed in English.
Category English terms suffixed with -trix not found

Latin[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Indo-European *-trih₂, from *-tḗr. Cognate with the Sanskrit suffix -त्री (-trī) as in जनित्री (janitrī, mother); compare genetrīx.

The origin of the medial -c- is unknown. Compare Proto-Slavic *-ica with the same element, and also with secondary thematicization.

Pronunciation[edit]

Suffix[edit]

-trīx f (genitive -trīcis); third declension

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

Usage notes[edit]

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 tōnsor (male hair cutter), from tondeō (I shear, shave)
meretrīx (prostitute", lit. "she who earns), from mereō (I merit, deserve, earn)

Declension[edit]

Third-declension noun.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative -trīx -trīcēs
Genitive -trīcis -trīcum
Dative -trīcī -trīcibus
Accusative -trīcem -trīcēs
Ablative -trīce -trīcibus
Vocative -trīx -trīcēs

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • Catalan: -triu
  • English: -rix, -trix, -tress, -ess (partially)
  • French: -trice
  • Italian: -trice
  • Portuguese: -triz
  • Sicilian: -trici
  • Spanish: -triz