-trix

See also: Trix

English

From numerous Latinate feminine agent nouns.

-trix f (plural -trices)

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.

Other feminine affixes:

Most of these derived terms were borrowed directly from Latin, rather than formed in English.

English terms suffixed with -trix

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.

-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

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”)

Third-declension noun.

Latin terms suffixed with -trix

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