administratrix
(ædˌmɪnɪˈstreɪtrɪks)
[a. L. administrātr-ix, fem. of administrator: see -trix.]
1. gen. A female administrator; an administratress.
| 1790 Burke Fr. Revol. Wks. V. 63 The princess Sophia was named..as a temporary administratrix. 1859 G. Wilson Life of Forbes iv. 126 A mighty change passing over Medicine as an administratrix of substances, which in one sense are food, in another medicine, in another poison. |
2. spec. A woman appointed to administer the estate of an intestate.
| 1626 Cockeram, Administratrix, a woman in that place [i.e. as administrator]. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. State xi. (1840) 27 Her daughter had little comfort to be executrix or administratrix unto her. 1751 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Administrator, If a woman have goods thus committed to her charge, or administration, she is called administratrix. |
¶ The special meaning is the earlier; and it is due to its technical use as a legal term that the Latin form of the word has been retained, rather than the still earlier administress, and the later administratress and administratrice.