noun
- Plural of pyx; small ornamental containers or boxes, especially one used in a church to hold the consecrated bread (Eucharist).
- Plural of pyx; small cylindrical boxes historically used to hold coins or medals for testing their weight and purity.
- Plural of pyx; in botany, a type of seed capsule that opens by a lid.
Usage: religious context; often capitalized when referring to the liturgical vessel
Usage: historical; numismatic
Usage: botanical term
Examples
- The priest carefully placed the consecrated wafers in the pyx before the service.
- Medieval pyxes were crafted from precious metals and decorated with intricate designs.
- The museum displayed several ornate pyxes from the Renaissance period.
- In botany, some plants produce pyxes as their method of seed dispersal.
- The royal mint maintained pyxes to verify the quality of newly minted coins.