Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pyx

/pɪks/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.54 in modern English

Syllables
pyx
IPA
/pɪks/
15
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A (small) box; a casket, a coffret.

noun

A box used in a mint as a place to deposit sample coins intended to have the fineness of their metal and their weight tested before the coins are issued to the public.

British usage

noun

A compass used by sailors.

Obsolete

verb

To place (the host) in a pyx.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

verb

To enclose (something) in a box or other container; specifically, to place (a deceased person's body) in a coffin; to coffin, to encoffin.

Transitive verb

verb

To deposit (sample coins) in a pyx; (by extension) to test (such coins) for the fineness of metal and weight before a mint issues them to the public.

British usage; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

The noun is derived from Late Middle English pix, pixe (“vessel for holding a host, pyx; hip bone socket, pyxis”) [and other forms], from Late Latin pyxis (“vessel for holding a host”), Latin pyxis (“small box for medicines or toiletries; box holding sample coins for testing; hip bone socket; sailor's compass”), from Koine Greek πυξίς (puxís), Ancient Greek πῠξῐ́ς (pŭxĭ́s, “box; box or tablet made of boxwood; cylinder”), from πῠ́ξος (pŭ́xos, “box tree; boxwood”) + -ῐς (-ĭs, suffix forming feminine nouns). Doublet of box, piseog, and pyxis. The verb is derived from the noun.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /pɪks/
  • British English: /pɪks/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Homonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce pyx?
The recorded pronunciation is /pɪks/.
What does pyx mean?
A small, usually round container used to hold the host (“consecrated bread or wafer of the Eucharist”), especially when bringing communion to the sick or others unable to attend Mass.
Where does pyx come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce pyx

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pyx”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/pɪks/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pyx”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “pyx” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.