huntress
UK[ˈhʌntrəs]US[ˈhʌntrəs]
n
a woman who hunts wild animals for food or sport.
n
a mythological or fictional female character who is skilled at hunting.
Morpheme Breakdown
hunt
ress
hunt
to chase and kill
ress
female suffix
Etymology
the word 'huntress' is a feminine formation built upon the older agent noun 'hunter'. the core verb 'hunt' originates from the old english 'huntian', meaning to chase game, which is of germanic origin. the feminine suffix '-ress' entered english via old french '-eresse', itself derived from the latin feminine agent suffix '-trix' (as in 'venatrix', a female hunter). this suffix was productively attached to masculine agent nouns ending in '-er' or '-or' to specify the female counterpart, following a pattern seen in words like 'actress' and 'waitress'. thus, 'huntress' literally means 'a female one who hunts', a term often applied to both historical figures and archetypal figures in mythology, such as the roman goddess diana.
Analysis
Structure: hunt (to chase and kill) + ress (female suffix)
hunt: origin old english 'huntian', functional role: verbal root meaning to pursue game.
ress: origin old french '-eresse', from latin '-atrix', functional role: feminine agent noun suffix.
Examples
atalanta was renowned in greek mythology as a skilled huntress.
she was an accomplished huntress, tracking deer through the forest with great patience.
the novel features a huntress who provides for her village by hunting in the forbidden woods.