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cantrix

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word cantrix

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin canō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin cano
Latin cantrix
From the same root
Latin canor ← cano
Latin cantio ← cano
Latin cantus ← cano
Latin concino ← cano
Latin incino ← cano
Latin recino ← cano

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈkan.triːks][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈkan.triks][1]

Forms

cantrīx f (genitive cantrīcis, masculine cantor); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin canō (“to sing”) + -trīx.[2][1][3] Lewis & Short and Georges treat it as the feminine of cantor.[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it, in the Trinummus, of a female singer.[2][5][6]

Semantic evolution

It was a rare word.[5] Varro uses it as an adjective of singing birds kept in an aviary,[4][5][7] an inscription of the city of Rome records it,[5] and Tertullian and other Church writers use it.[4][5]

Medieval writers used it of a woman singer, often in contrast to the male cantor: a treatise of the 9th or 10th century speaks of secular singers, men and women.[8][9] In convents it was the nun who led the choir, the precentress:[9][10] in 1284 Archbishop Peckham forbade anything new to be sung at Godstow without the advice of the master, the abbess and the cantrīx.[10]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a female singer.[2][6]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of singing birds.[4][6]
  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it.[4][6]
  • 9th/10th century – A treatise on music speaks of secular singers, men and women.[8]
  • c. 1284 – Archbishop Peckham names the precentress of Godstow.[10]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A female singer, songstress.[2][4][5]
  2. (as an adjective) Singing: avēs cantrīcēs, songbirds.[4][5]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A precentress, the nun who leads the choir.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  8. ^ a b Lexicon musicum Latinum medii aevi (1992–), Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften; online ed. Wörterbuchnetz
  9. ^ a b c Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  10. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Cantrix.” Etymologically, 23 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/cantrix. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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