The masculine gender of 'vixen' is

Question

Accepted Answer

The masculine gender of 'vixen' is 'fox'.

**Explanation:**

1.  **Why Option 1 (fox) is correct:**
    *   A 'vixen' is specifically defined as a female fox. In the English language, when referring to the male counterpart of a 'vixen', the term 'fox' is used. While 'dog fox' can also be used to explicitly denote a male fox, 'fox' serves as both the general term for the species and the specific term for the male gender when contrasted with 'vixen' (female). Therefore, 'fox' is the correct masculine gender for 'vixen'.

2.  **Why Option 2 (horse) is incorrect:**
    *   A 'horse' is an entirely different animal species. The female of a horse is called a 'mare', and the male is called a 'stallion' (or 'gelding' if castrated). It has no relation to 'vixen'.

3.  **Why Option 3 (ox) is incorrect:**
    *   An 'ox' is a castrated male bovine, typically used for draft work. It belongs to the cattle species. The female of this species is a 'cow', and the uncastrated male is a 'bull'. 'Ox' is not related to 'vixen' in any way.

4.  **Why Option 4 (deer) is incorrect:**
    *   A 'deer' is a different animal species. The female of a deer is called a 'doe', and the male is called a 'buck' or 'stag'. It is not the masculine form of 'vixen'.