Etymologically
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monstro

Etymology and origin of the Latin word monstro

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (moneō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈmõː.stroː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɔn.stro][1]

Forms

mōnstrō (present infinitive mōnstrāre, perfect active mōnstrāvī, supine mōnstrātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from mōnstrum “portent, sign” with the verb suffix -ō, and so ultimately from moneō “to warn”.[2][1][3][4] The archaic spelling is ⟨mostrō⟩.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of pointing out and of showing the way.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to point out, show, and in the passive in Virgil to be pointed out, and in Plautus to show by example, teach.[2] In Virgil it meant to reveal, make known, to suggest a course, and in Horace to prescribe a remedy.[2] In Cicero it meant of things to reveal, betray, in Tacitus to designate a person, and in Plautus to show the way.[2] Lewis and Short call it very rare in classical prose.[4] Döderlein explains that ostendere is to let something be seen, while mōnstrāre is to show in order to teach.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to show, point out.[7] It survives in Italian mostrare, French montrer and Spanish mostrar, and Old French mostrer gave English muster in the early 14th century, first “to show”.[1][8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of showing the way.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of things revealing.[2][5]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of making known.[2][5]
  • early 14th century – English muster is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To point out, show; in the passive, to be pointed out.[2]
  2. To show by example, teach.[2]
  3. To reveal, make known; to prescribe; to suggest.[2]
  4. To betray, show.[2]
  5. To designate.[2]
  6. To show the way.[2]

Word family

  • commōnstrō
  • dēmōnstrō
  • monstrābilis
  • mōnstrātiō
  • mōnstrātor
  • monstrātus
  • praemōnstrō
  • praetermonstrō
  • praemostro

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from ostendō, to let something be seen.[6]

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 j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Monstro.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/monstro. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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