LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininethird declension

mātrīx

mātrīx f (genitive mātrīcis)
Classical[ˈmaː.triːks]Ecclesiastical[ˈmaː.triks]

Meaning

  1. uterus, womb
  2. dam (non-human female animal kept for breeding)
  3. source, origin
  4. list, register
  5. matrix

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativemātrīxmātrīcēs
genitivemātrīcismātrīcum
dativemātrīcīmātrīcibus
accusativemātrīcemmātrīcēs
ablativemātrīcemātrīcibus
vocativemātrīxmātrīcēs

mātrix, īcis, f. id.,
I. a mother in respect to propagation (in lit. signif. not used of women).
I. Lit., a breeding-animal: of breeding-cows, Varr. R. R. 2, 5, 12; of breeding-ewes, Col. 7, 3, 12; of laying-hens, id. 8, 2, 6; 8, 5, 11.—
B. Transf.
1. Of plants, the parent-stem, Suet. Aug. 94.—
2. The womb, matrix (late Lat.): matricis dolor, Veg. Vet. 2, 17, 5; Sen. Contr. 2, 13, 6.—
3. A public register, list, roll: in matricibus beneficiariorum, Tert. Fug. in Persec. 12.—
II. Trop., a source, origin, cause (cf. mater, II.; eccl. Lat.): Eva matrix generis feminini, the progenitress, Tert. Virg. Vel. 5: primordialis lex data Adae, quasi matrix omnium praeceptorum Dei, id. adv. Jud. 2; id. adv. Haer. 21: matrix et origo cunctorum, id. adv. Valent. 7.—As an appellation of Venus, Inscr. Orell, 1373.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*méh₂tēr
  2. Proto-Italic*mātēr
  3. Latinmātrīx

Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ih₂ Proto-Indo-European *-trih₂ Proto-Italic *-trīks Latin -ix Latin mātrīx From māter + -ix (“feminine noun ending”).

Descendants
  • Romanianmătrice
  • Sardinianmatriche
  • Sardinianmadrighe
  • Catalanmatriu
  • Englishmatrix
  • GermanMatrix
  • Italianmatrice
  • Frenchmatricefrom Old French matrice
  • GermanMatrizefrom Old French matrice
  • Romanianmatrițăfrom Old French matrice

In English words that came into English from mātrīx

  • matrixmātrīx
  • madrigalmātrīcālis
  • matriculatemātrīculātus
  • matriculamatricula

Quick answers

What does mātrīx mean in Latin?
mātrīx, a noun, means “uterus, womb; dam (non-human female animal kept for breeding); source, origin”.
What is the genitive of mātrīx?
The genitive singular is mātrīcis. mātrīx is feminine, third declension.
How do you pronounce mātrīx?
In classical Latin, [ˈmaː.triːks]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈmaː.triks].
Where does mātrīx come from?
Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr → Proto-Italic *mātēr → Latin mātrīx.
Which English words come from mātrīx?
English words that go back to Latin mātrīx include matrix, madrigal, matricula and matriculate.