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