Why does the "directrix" of a conic section have that name?

Question

Conic sections may be defined in terms of the "focus-directrix property", as the loci of points that satisfy a particular relationship involving a point called the focus and a line called the directrix. While the name "focus" for the point seems easily explicable, the name "directrix" for the line is less so (to me). Where did it originally come from? Is the "-trix" suffix supposed to indicate that it is feminine in some way?

Answer 1

I guess the name comes from the fact that the directrix is a fixed line, thus specifying a fixed direction.

According to merriam-webster's etymology: directrix is the "feminine of Late Latin director".

I think directrix is a late Latin translation of the ancient greek work "διευθετούσα" -used by Pappus of Alexandria who lived during the hellenistic period- which is a feminine participle meaning smt like "the one settling the thing". Maybe this discussion on PhysicsForums might be of interest in tracing the origins of the term directrix.

Answer 2

A not-entirely-useful entry from the "Earliest Known Uses of Some of the Words of Mathematics" pages:

According to the DSB, Jan de Witt (1625-1672) "is credited with introducing the term 'directrix' for the parabola, but it is clear from his derivation that he does not use the term for the fixed line of our focus-directrix definition."

DSB = The Dictionary of Scientific Biography. C. C. Gillispie (editor in chief) New York : Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1970-1980.

Answer 3

In a circle, locus of point of intersection of perpendicular tangents is the director circle. In a parabola, locus of point of intersection of perpendicular tangents is a line- the directrix (maybe this is why its called so)