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menstruatio

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word menstruatio

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
Ultimate origin
Latin mēnsis

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [mẽː.struˈaː.ti.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [men.struˈat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

mēnstruātiō f (genitive mēnstruātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin mēnstruō + -tiō,[1] the verb being formed from mēnstruus (“monthly”), from mēnsis (“month”).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The DMLBS records it in a medieval British medical text, of the time when the menses begin to flow.[3]

Semantic evolution

Besides menstruation,[1][3] Długosz's Liber beneficiorum uses menstruatio lunae for the new or crescent moon.[4] English menstruation was formed from the Late Latin verb in the 1680s.[2]

Timeline

Meanings

Noun

  1. Menstruation.[1][3]
  2. (Medieval Latin) The new or crescent phase of the moon.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c 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
  4. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
Cite this entry

“Menstruatio.” Etymologically, 8 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/menstruatio. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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