English
monk
Monk comes from Middle English monk ‘a monk’, from Ancient Greek μοναχός ‘single, solitary’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *men-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*men-root as named
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*mónwosreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμόνοςmónos‘alone’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEμοναχόςmonakhós‘single, solitary’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmonicus
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*munikreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150munuc
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500monk‘a monk’
- Englishearliest quotation 1802monk
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*men-root as named
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*mónwosreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμόνοςmónos‘alone’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEμοναχόςmonakhós‘single, solitary’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmonicus
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*munikreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150munuc
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500monk‘a monk’
- Englishearliest quotation 1802monk
Earliest quotation: 1802, Joseph Ritson, Poets of the Fifteenth Century: “This is believed to be the completeſt liſt of…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *men-
music, mind, money, comment, mental, remain, amount, museum, permanent, mountain, mouth, auto, mention, min, mount, monster, mentor, mint, maya, monitor, dementia, demonstration, imminent, amnesty, monetary, muse, eminent, menace, ming, prominence, mas, mandarin, mantra, mania, monument, muster, amnesia, manic, remnant, mosaic, 125 more
through Ancient Greek μόνος ‘alone’
monastery, minster, monochromatic, monolith, monad, monism, 14 more
through Old English munuc
Today it means
noun A male member of a monastic order who has devoted his life for religious service.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *men- / monk