pyxis

¹ American  

[pik-sis] / ˈpɪk sɪs /

noun

plural

pyxides

1. Greek and Roman Antiquity. a box of a usually cylindrical shape having a lid with a knob in the center, used for toilet articles.

2. pyx.

3. Botany. a pyxidium.

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Pyxis ² American  

[pik-sis] / ˈpɪk sɪs /

noun

Astronomy.

genitive

Pyxidis

1. the Compass, a southern constellation: one of the subordinate constellations into which Argo is now divided.

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pyxis ¹ British  

/ ˈpɪksɪs /

noun

1. a small box used by the ancient Greeks and Romans to hold medicines, etc

2. a rare word for pyx

3. another name for pyxidium

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Pyxis ² British  

/ ˈpɪksɪs /

noun

1. an inconspicuous constellation close to Puppis that was originally considered part of the more extensive constellation Argo

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Etymology

Origin of pyxis¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek pyxís a box

Origin of Pyxis²

1680–90; < Latin < Greek pyxís a box, pyx

Example Sentences

The marriage is celebrated here in a pyxis attributed to the Meleager Painter.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2010

Pyxidata means made like a box, from pyxis, a box.

From The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Its Habitat and its Time of Growth by Hard, Miron Elisha

A girl with a pyxis stands on the left behind the throne.

From A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume I (of 2) by Smith, A. H.

Page 3, line 45. pyxidem.—The word pyxis, which occurs here, and in the next sentence as pyxidem nauticam, is translated compass.

From On the magnet, magnetick bodies also, and on the great magnet the earth a new physiology, demonstrated by many arguments & experiments by Gilbert, William

The pyxis was used by women at their toilet, and the lekythos, alabastron and askos for oil and unguents.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various

Related Words

• trunk