praecentrix

praecentrix [CL praecentus p. ppl. of praecinere+-trix] , one (f.) who leads singing, (skilled) singer (in quots. transf.). b (eccl., w. ref. to office-holder in religious institution) precentrix, precentress. nobilis volucrum ~ix [sc. philomena] Neckam NR I 51; alauda ‥ in preconia diei letabunda exsurgit ~ix Ib. 68.  b 1237 priorissa et conventus de Wylton’ habent licentiam eligendi per Avelinam ~icem ejusdem domus Pat 47 m. 8; c1250 ~ix quoque preparet librum collationi Inst. Sempr. lxxxiii; judices ‥ subpriorissam, ~icem, cellerariam, ac sacristam ‥ ab ingressu ecclesie suspenderunt Meaux II 17; 1415 Margareta Henivale ~ix Reg. Cant. III 361; 1422 quod magis idonea monialis in ~icem deputetur (Elstow) Vis. Linc. I 50; 1519 domina Johanna Twyford ~ix que factura est provisiones pro vestimentis et calciamentis monialium (Burnham) Ib. II 87.