-rix

From numerous Latinate feminine agent nouns, re-inforced by Latin -trīx. Note that -rix is not actually a suffix in Latin, only a part of the -trix suffix.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɹɪks/

-rix f (plural -rices)

1. (dated) Appended to words, chiefly verbs, to form female agent nouns.

• For masculine agent nouns ending in -or, the feminine equivalent ending in -rix is the etymologically consistent form; however, in some cases the common feminine form has changed to become the one ending in -ess instead. For example, the common feminine form of actor is actress, and no longer the earlier form actrix.
• Relatively dated and not especially productive in modern English, where either gender-neutral terms or other suffixes, notably -ess, are generally preferred, as in actress rather than dated actrix.
• Notably used in dominatrix, and, due to the popularity of this term, has some other use in erotic contexts, e.g. masturbatrix.

Other feminine affixes:

• -a
• -ess
• -ette
• she-

• Note that some of these derived terms may have been borrowed directly from Latin, rather than formed in English.