doctrix

doctrix · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromdoctrīx“a female teacher”
2. Middle English · inherited fromdoctrice
3. English todaydoctrix

From Middle English doctrice, from Latin doctrīx (“a female teacher”), feminine form of doctor (“a teacher”). The "female physician" sense is from the English doctor (which is from the Latin doctor) medical sense, analyzed as a feminine form of the English word. By surface analysis, doc(tor) + -trix.

Doctrix · noun²

1. Latin · learned borrowing fromdoctrīx“a female teacher”
2. English todayDoctrix

Learned borrowing from Latin doctrīx (“a female teacher”), the female equivalent of doctor, by analogy with English Doctor.

First known use, by meaning

• from 1980s A protagonist of the television series Doctor Who (called the Doctor) who is female.