English
monstrous
Monstrous comes from Latin mōnstruōsus ‘strange, preternatural, monstrous’, from Proto-Italic *moneō ‘to remind, warn’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *men- ‘to think, mind’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*men-‘to think, mind’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*monéyeti‘to cause to think, make think’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*man-eje-reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*moneō‘to remind, warn’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*monestromreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmōnstrum‘portent, monstrosity’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmōnstruōsusas mōnstrōsus‘strange, preternatural, monstrous’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400monstrueuse
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500monstrous
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1599monstrous
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*men-‘to think, mind’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*monéyeti‘to cause to think, make think’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*man-eje-reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*moneō‘to remind, warn’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*monestromreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmōnstrum‘portent, monstrosity’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmōnstruōsusas mōnstrōsus‘strange, preternatural, monstrous’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400monstrueuse
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500monstrous
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1599monstrous
Earliest quotation: c. 1596–1599, William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.: “So bad a death argues a monstrous life.”
Equivalent to monster + -ous
Proto-Indo-European *men- ‘to think’
…
Proto-Italic *monestrom
Latin mōnstrum ‘omen, portent; monster’
Old French monstre
Middle English monstre ‘a monster or beast’
English monster
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *men- ‘to think, mind’
mind, music, money, comment, mental, remain, amount, permanent, mention, museum, auto, mouth, min, mountain, mount, mentor, mint, maya, monetary, dementia, imminent, eminent, menace, ming, mas, mandarin, monk, amnesty, mania, prominence, mosaic, muse, amnesia, manic, mantra, remnant, monte, eminence, monastery, mantis, 117 more
through Proto-Indo-European *monéyeti ‘to cause to think, make think’
through Proto-Italic *man-eje-
through Proto-Italic *moneō ‘to remind, warn’
monitor, monument, muster, minter, admonition, admonish, 16 more
through Latin mōnstrum ‘portent, monstrosity’
Today it means
adj Hideous or frightful.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *men- / monstrous