different between pfx vs pyx

English

Noun

pfx

1. Abbreviation of prefix.

Related terms

• sfx

English

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 ????? (puxís), Ancient Greek ?????? (puxís, “box; box or tablet made of boxwood; cylinder”), from ?????? (púxos, “box tree; boxwood”) + -?? (-is, suffix forming feminine nouns).

The verb is derived from the noun.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /p?ks/
• Homophones: picks, pics, pix
• Rhymes: -?ks

Noun

pyx (plural pyxes)

1. (Christianity, also figuratively) 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.

   Synonym: (rare) pyxis
2. (by extension, rare) A (small) box; a casket, a coffret.

   Synonym: pyxis
3. (chiefly Britain) 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.
4. (nautical, obsolete, rare) A compass used by sailors.

Alternative forms

• pix (obsolete, Late Middle English–19th c.)

Translations

Verb

pyx (third-person singular simple present pyxes, present participle pyxing, simple past and past participle pyxed) (transitive)

1. (obsolete) To place (the host) in a pyx.
2. (figuratively) To enclose (something) in a box or other container; specifically, to place (a deceased person's body) in a coffin; to coffin, to encoffin.
3. (chiefly Britain) 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.

Alternative forms

• pix (obsolete)

Derived terms

• pyxed (adjective) (obsolete, rare)
• pyxing (noun)

Notes

References

Further reading

• pyx on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Trial of the Pyx on Wikipedia.Wikipedia