executrix

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*sekʷ-“to follow”
2. Latin · derived fromexsequor“to follow after thoroughly, pursue persistently; (figurative) to execute, perform; to pursue with vengeance, avenge”
3. Latin · derived from-trīx
4. Anglo-Norman · derived from*executrice
5. Medieval Latin · derived fromexecūtrīx
6. Middle English · inherited fromexecutrice
7. English todayexecutrix

From Late Middle English executrice, executrix (“female executor; administrator of the law; wielder of fate”), from Medieval Latin execūtrīx (possibly through Anglo-Norman *executrice) from execūtor, exsecūtor (“accomplisher, performer; prosecutor, revenger”), + Latin -trīx (suffix forming feminine agent nouns). Exsecūtor is derived from Latin exsequor (“to follow after thoroughly, pursue persistently; (figurative) to execute, perform; to pursue with vengeance, avenge”) (from ex- (intensifying prefix) + sequor (“to follow, pursue”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”))) + -tor (suffix forming masculine agent nouns). By surface analysis, execute + -trix (suffix forming feminine agent nouns).

Words from the same roots