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-trix
- a suffix occurring in loanwords from Latin, where it formed feminine nouns or adjectives corresponding to agent nouns ending in -tor ( Bellatrix ). On this model, -trix is used in English to form feminine nouns ( aviatrix; executrix ) and geometrical terms denoting straight lines ( directrix ).
-trix
suffix forming nouns
- indicating a feminine agent, corresponding to nouns ending in -tor
executrix
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Gender Note
A suffix borrowed directly from Latin, -trix has been used since the 15th century on feminine agent nouns that correspond to a masculine (in Latin) or generic (in English) agent noun ending in -tor: aviator, aviatrix; legislator, legislatrix; orator, oratrix. Most nouns in -trix have dropped from general use, so that terms like aviatrix, benefactrix, legislatrix, oratrix, and proprietrix occur rarely or not at all in present-day English. The forms in -tor are applied to both men and women: Her sister is the proprietor of a new restaurant. When relevant, gender is specified with the generic term: Amelia Earhart was a pioneer woman aviator. Legal documents still use administratrix, executrix, inheritrix, and the like, but these forms too are giving way to the -tor forms. -enne, -ess, -ette.
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Word History and Origins
Origin of -trix1
From Latin -trīx, stem -trīc-
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Word History and Origins
Origin of -trix1
from Latin
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Example Sentences
Father is going away too, and of course I couldn't leave the mater and Trix.
From Project Gutenberg
Girls nowadays think it chic to affect fads, but Trix is no more a 'new woman' than I am a winged saint.
From Project Gutenberg
She saw the Dowager's paint t'other day, and asked her why she wore that red stuff—didn't you, Trix?
From Project Gutenberg
Trix will never stop at home; mother's in love with you,—yes, I think mother's in love with you.
From Project Gutenberg
You can't help being handsome, Trix; no more can the Prince help following you.
From Project Gutenberg
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