Converting X to C

Words which end in X are commonly pluralised by adding -ES on the end. However you may have noticed that some words also have a plural which changes the X to a C.

A good example would be the word ANTHRAX. The plural of ANTHRAXES is allowed, but so is the plural ANTHRACES.

While ANTHRAX has only 7 letters the plurals are both 9 letter words. So today's list will focus on words of less than 7 letters where the X to C shift is possible

In some cases the -XES ending is not allowed at all. This usually seems to happen with words that have Latin roots, particularly if they are describing certain types of plants or animals. Also, where the original word ends in -EX the extension ends in -ICES. Changing the vowel before the X only happens with -EX words

Before I start I must point out that this list grew longer than I expected so you may want to look at smaller chunks or perhaps just learn some interesting X words you didn't know without worrying about the extensions

AUSPEX / AUSPICES

A soothsayer of Ancient Rome. Note that the -XES ending isn't allowed on this one. I think most people would recognise AUSPICES, but AUSPEX is obscure

BORAX / BORAXES / BORACES

A mineral found on alkaline lake shores. Also known as TINCAL

CALIX / CALIXES / CALICES

An ecclesiastical chalice or cup

CAUDEX / CAUDEXES / CAUDICES

The woody base of some plants

CERVIX / CERVIXES / CERVICES

A necklike opening. Particularly the lower part of the uterus

CIMEX / CIMICES

A bedbug

CODEX / CODEXES / CODICES

A manuscript or book

CORTEX / CORTEXES / CORTICES

The outer layer of certain organs

CULEX / CULEXES / CULICES

A genus of insects which includes the mosquito

CYLIX / CYLICES / CYLIKES

A two handled drinking cup

FORNIX / FORNICES

An arched anatomical structure

FRUTEX / FRUTICES

A type of shrub

HELIX / HELIXES / HELICES

Something with a spiral structure

HYRAX / HYRAXES / HYRACES

Small mammal like a hare. Something can be called HYRACOID

IMBREX / IMBRICES

Curved tiles fitting over flat tiles on Roman buildings

IBEX / IBEXES / IBICES

A wild mountain goat

ILEX / ILEXES / ILICES

A tree or shrub of the holly family

INDEX / INDEXES / INDICES

The reference section of a book

KYLIX / KYLIXES / KYLICES / KYLIKES

A two handled drinking cup. Look back to CYLIX. Interesting that the -XES plural is only allowed on one of the two alternative spellings of the same word

LATEX / LATEXES / LATICES

The milky juice of rubber trees

LIMAX / LIMACES

Part of the Latin name for different types of slugs.

MATRIX / MATRIXES / MATRICES

Something into which something else is embedded

MUREX / MUREXES / MURICES

A type of shellfish from which a purple dye can be extracted

ORIFEX / ORIFICES

An opening or aperture. Note how common usage has created what is now the much better known word for this by dropping the S from the plural

POLLEX / POLLICES

The Latin name for the thumb

RADIX / RADIXES / RADICES

A root number or a numerical base

SALIX / SALICES

A genus of trees which included the willow

SCOLEX / SCOLECES / SCOLICES

The knoblike head of a tape worm. Interesting that there are two different C plurals, but no -XES ending

SPADIX / SPADIXES / SPADICES

A flower spike that is covered by a large leaf

THORAX / THORAXES / THORACES

The part of the body between the neck and the abdomen. The two plurals both have anagrams worth remembering - OXHEARTS and CHAROSET

TUTRIX / TUTRIXES / TUTRICES

A female tutor

ULEX / ULEXES / ULICES

A genus of plants which includes gorse

VARIX / VARICES

A varicose vein

VERTEX / VERTEXES / VERTICES

The highest point of something

VIBEX / VIBICES

A streak under the skin due to blood escaping from small capillaries into the surrounding tissue. A good front hook sequence is V -- I -- BICES

VORTEX / VORTEXES / VORTICES

A whirling mass of fluid

Happy Scrabbling

Patrick