Matrix, matrîcis, pen. prod. f. g. Col. The mother or matrice in a woman wherein the chylde is conceiued: the wombe: In herbes and shrubs it is the pith. Any female kinde that conceiueth and beareth, or is kept for breede. vt Sint ergo matrices robusti corporis, magnis capibus, &c. Col. Let the females kept for breed be, &c.Matrix arbor. Suet. The tree out of which yoong shootes do spring: a stockt.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
mātrix, īcis, f. [id.], a mother in respect to propagation (in lit. signif. not used of women). I.Lit., a breeding-animal: of breeding-cows, Varr. R. R. 2, 5, 12; of breeding-ewes, Col. 7, 3, 12; of laying-hens, id. 8, 2, 6; 8, 5, 11.—B.Transf.1. Of plants, the parent-stem, Suet. Aug. 94.—2.The womb, matrix (late Lat.): matricis dolor, Veg. Vet. 2, 17, 5; Sen. Contr. 2, 13, 6.— 3.A public register, list, roll: in matricibus beneficiariorum, Tert. Fug. in Persec. 12.—II.Trop., a source, origin, cause (cf. mater, II.; eccl. Lat.): Eva matrix generis feminini,
the progenitress
, Tert. Virg. Vel. 5: primordialis lex data Adae, quasi matrix omnium praeceptorum Dei, id. adv. Jud. 2; id. adv. Haer. 21: matrix et origo cunctorum, id. adv. Valent. 7.—As an appellation of Venus, Inscr. Orell, 1373.