rectrix

English

Etymology

From Latin rectrix, feminine form of rector (“one who directs”).

Noun

rectrix (plural rectrices)

1. A governess; a rectoress.
2. A flight feather on the tails of birds, used for directional control.

Related terms

• rectricial

Latin

Etymology

From regō +‎ -trīx, female equivalent of rēctor.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈreːk.triːks/, [ˈreːkt̪riːks̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈrek.triks/, [ˈrɛkt̪riks]

Noun

rēctrīx f (genitive rēctrīcis); third declension

1. governess, directress
2. (New Latin) rectrix, steering-feather

Declension

Third-declension noun.

	singular	plural
nominative	rēctrīx	rēctrīcēs
genitive	rēctrīcis	rēctrīcum
dative	rēctrīcī	rēctrīcibus
accusative	rēctrīcem	rēctrīcēs
ablative	rēctrīce	rēctrīcibus
vocative	rēctrīx	rēctrīcēs

Descendants

• → English: rectrix
• → French: rectrice (learned)

References

• rectrix in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• rectrix in Georges, Karl Ernst, Georges, Heinrich (1913–1918) Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th edition, volume 2, Hahnsche Buchhandlung
• “rectrix”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press