When we have a specifically feminine version of a noun which ends with the -ess suffix, like in huntress, sorceress, anchoress, etc. Is it always wrong to use, like, hunter for a female hunter too or sorcerer for a female sorcerer too and so on?
Does it always work like in the emperor and empress case, where the gender is somehow clearly distinct (at least for me) ?
Best Answer
Grammar
I think the usage of these female nouns may be idiomatic. Idiomatic means that there is no firm grammar rule and you have to learn each one on a case-by-case basis.
Examples
http://wordinfo.info/unit/4432/s:a%20suffix%20that%20forms%20nouns%20meaning%20a%20female
I think that whether or not the female -ess noun is used just depends on whether or not native speakers use that word frequently in the language. If they don't, then they use the male noun for both genders.