menstrualis

Forms

mēnstruālis (neuter mēnstruāle); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin mēnstruus + -ālis, from the adjective meaning “monthly”,^[2][1] which is derived from mēnsis (“month”).^[3][1] The noun goes back to Proto-Italic *mēns- (“month, moon”) and Proto-Indo-European *meh₁-n-s-.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it in the Captivi (c. 250–184 BC),^[3][2] of meals that last for a month (menstrualis epulas).^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

In Plautus it means lasting for a month;^[2] L&S also gives “monthly, every month”, citing a menstrualis sphaera in Prudentius.^[5] From Pliny the Elder on it is a medical word for a woman liable to monthly courses or menstruating at the time.^[2][5]

In British Medieval Latin it meant both “happening once a month” and “of menstrual discharge”, and as a noun the discharge itself.^[6] English menstrual comes from it, partly through Old French menstruel, from the late 14th century.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of meals that last a month.^[2][8]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a menstruating woman.^[2][8]
• 348/49–c. 413 AD – Prudentius uses it in the sense “monthly”.^[5][8]
• late 14th century – English borrows it as menstrual.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Lasting for a month; monthly.^[2][5]
2. (medicine) Liable to menstruate; in the process of menstruation.^[2][5]
3. (Medieval Latin) Of menstrual discharge; as a noun, the discharge itself.^[6]

Related words

• mēnsis
• mēnstruō
• mēnstruum
• mēnstruus
• mēnsuālis
• English menstrual

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de