pyx
1 synonym for pyx, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — In Roman Catholicism, a pyx is a small container, typically round, in which the consecrated host is kept, most often when a priest takes communion to someone housebound or too ill to attend Mass.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
pix
How to use pyx
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
carry the pyx
silver pyx
Trial of the Pyx
open the pyx
The word belongs to specialist religious and numismatic vocabulary rather than everyday speech.
Etymology
Pyx comes from Late Middle English pix or pixe, itself from Late Latin pyxis, meaning a vessel for holding a host. This in turn traces back through Latin and Greek to a word for a box made of boxwood.
Full origin of pyx →Frequently asked questions
What is a pyx used for in church?
A pyx is a small container, often round, used to hold the consecrated host, particularly when a priest brings communion to someone unable to attend Mass.
What is the Trial of the Pyx?
It is a British ceremony in which sample coins kept in a pyx are tested for their correct metal purity and weight before being released into circulation.
How is pyx pronounced?
Pyx is pronounced the same as the words picks or pix, as a single syllable.
