pyxis

pyxis

See also: Pyxis

English

Etymology

From Latin pyxis (“small box”). Doublet of piseog.

Noun

pyxis (plural pyxides)

1. A small box
2. (botany) A capsule in which the lid separates from the top of the fruit to release the seeds; a pyxidium
3. A nautical compass
4. (Christianity) The box in which ashes are stored for Ash Wednesday
5. (anatomy) acetabulum

Synonyms

• (botanical capsule): pyxidium

Translations

small box

Ancient Greek: πυξίς (puxís) Latin: pyxis

botany: capsule for seeds — see pyxidium

nautical compass

Finnish: laivakompassi

Christianity: box in which ashes are stored for Ash Wednesday

anatomy: acetabulum — see acetabulum

---

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin pyxis, from Ancient Greek πυξίς (puxís).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpiksɪs/
• Hyphenation: py‧xis

Noun

pyxis f (plural [please provide])

1. (Roman Catholicism) A small box for storing consecrated hosts, e.g. in a tabernacle or for travel when tending to the sick.

---

Latin

Alternative forms

• puxis
• pixis (medieval)

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek πυξίς (puxís).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈpyk.sis/, [ˈpʏks̠ɪs̠]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈpik.sis/, [ˈpiksis]

Noun

pyxis f (genitive pyxidis); third declension

1. A small box, for holding medicines or toiletries.

Declension

Third-declension noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	pyxis	pyxidēs
Genitive	pyxidis	pyxidum
Dative	pyxidī	pyxidibus
Accusative	pyxidem	pyxidēs
Ablative	pyxide	pyxidibus
Vocative	pyxis	pyxidēs

Related terms

• pyxidatus

Descendants

• → Catalan: pixis, píxide
• → English: pyxis, pyx

References

• “pyxis”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “pyxis”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• pyxis in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• pyxis in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette
• “pyxis”, in The Perseus Project (1999) Perseus Encyclopedia‎
• “pyxis”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “pyxis”, in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin