-trix
English
Etymology
From numerous Latinate feminine agent nouns.
Pronunciation
- (General American, Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /tɹɪks/
- Rhymes: -ɪks
Suffix
-trix f (plural -trices)
- (dated) Found on the end of words, chiefly female agent nouns.
Usage notes
- 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
Other feminine affixes:
- -a
- -ess
- -ette
- -ine
- she-
Derived terms
- Most of these derived terms were borrowed directly from Latin, rather than formed in English.
English terms suffixed with -trix
Derived terms
- accusatrix
- actrix
- adjutrix
- administratrix
- admonitrix
- advocatrix
- advotrix
- agitatrix
- alienatrix
- amatrix
- ambulatrix
- ancestrix
- annotatrix
- arbitratrix
- assassinatrix
- assestrix
- autocratrix
- aviatrix
- benefactrix
- bisectrix
- cantatrix
- castratrix
- causatrix
- coadjutrix
- co-executrix
- commotrix
- compilatrix
- compotrix
- competitrix
- compurgatrix
- conciliatrix
- concionatrix
- concitatrix
- confessatrix
- congregatrix
- conservatrix
- consolatrix
- consultrix
- contemplatrix
- co-operatrix
- correctrix
- corruptrix
- creatrix
- creditrix
- curatrix
- dedicatrix
- denunciatrix
- desertrix
- devoratrix
- dictatrix
- directrix
- dispensatrix
- dispositrix
- divinatrix
- distrix
- doctrix
- dominatrix
- donatrix
- editrix
- educatrix
- effectrix
- electrix
- emancipatrix
- embassatrix
- emulatrix
- evocatrix
- executrix
- expenditrix
- explicatrix
- expugnatrix
- exterminatrix
- fabricatrix
- factrix
- fautrix
- fellatrix
- formatrix
- fornicatrix
- fundatrix
- generatrix
- genetrix
- genitrix
- gladiatrix
- glossatrix
- gubernatrix
- heritrix
- heretrix
- ianitrix
- imitatrix
- imperatrix
- impersonatrix
- impostrix
- impropriatrix
- indagatrix
- indicatrix
- inductrix
- inheritrix
- initiatrix
- inoculatrix
- inquisitrix
- insultatrix
- inspectrix
- inspiratrix
- instigatrix
- institutrix
- interlocutrix
- interpolatrix
- interrogatrix
- inventrix
- investigatrix
- janitrix
- lavatrix
- legislatrix
- liberatrix
- liferentrix
- masturbatrix
- matrix
- mediatrix
- meretrix
- moderatrix
- monitrix
- motrix
- narratrix
- negotiatrix
- nominatrix
- novatrix
- nutrix
- observatrix
- obstetrix
- operatrix
- oratrix
- ornatrix
- osculatrix
- ostentatrix
- paintrix
- patrix
- perpetratrix
- persecutrix
- perturbatrix
- pontificatrix
- prætrix
- precentrix
- premeditatrix
- preservatrix
- primogenitrix
- procreatrix
- procuratrix
- productrix
- progenitrix
- projectrix
- prolocutrix
- promotrix
- propagatrix
- proprietrix
- prosecutrix
- protectrix
- provocatrix
- pulveratrix
- quadratrix
- reconciliatrix
- rectrix
- regeneratrix
- regulatrix
- relatrix
- renovatrix
- rinatrix
- sarcomatrix
- senatrix
- separatrix
- sequestratrix
- sermocinatrix
- servitrix
- significatrix
- solicitrix
- spectatrix
- speculatrix
- stimulatrix
- syntractrix
- tectrix
- testatrix
- tractatrix
- tractrix
- translatrix
- trisectrix
- triumphatrix
- tutrix
- usurpatrix
- versificatrix
- victrix
- writrix
- zelatrix
Latin
Etymology
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
- (Classical) IPA(key): /triːks/, [t̪riːks̠]
- (Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /triks/, [t̪riks]
Suffix
-trīx f (genitive -trīcis); third declension
- -ess, -trix; used to form a feminine agent noun
- (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
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
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
Latin terms suffixed with -trix
Related terms
- -tor
Descendants
- Catalan: -triu
- English: -rix, -trix, -tress, -ess (partially)
- French: -trice
- Italian: -trice
- Portuguese: -triz
- Sicilian: -trici
- Spanish: -triz