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monstrum

Etymology and origin of the Latin word monstrum

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (moneō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈmõː.strũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɔn.strum][1]

Forms

mōnstrum n (genitive mōnstrī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from moneō “to warn” with the instrumental suffix -trum, from Proto-Italic *monestrom.[1][2][3] Festus reports that Aelius Stilo derived it from the verb, as *monestrum, and that Sinnius Capito explained it as what shows the future and warns of the gods' will.[4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Ennius, whom he dates 204–169 BC.[5] The OLD's first citation is Plautus, of a portent.[2]

Semantic evolution

It belonged to the language of religion: a portent, prodigy, an unnatural event as a sign from the gods, usually of misfortune, as in Cicero and Virgil.[2][3][4] It came to mean an awful or monstrous thing, a horrible creature, monster, as in Terence, a person of great wickedness, as Cicero's attacks, and a monstrous act, atrocity.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a monstrosity.[6] Italian mostro may be inherited, and French monstre and Spanish monstruo are borrowings.[1] English monster came through Old French in the early 14th century.[7]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.[5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a portent.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a monster.[2][5]
  • early 14th century – English monster is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A portent, prodigy, omen.[2]
  2. A monstrous thing.[2]
  3. A monster, monstrosity.[2]
  4. A wicked person.[2]
  5. An atrocity.[2]

Word family

  • monstrifer
  • monstrificus
  • monstrigena
  • mōnstrō
  • mōnstruōsus
  • prōmonstrum
  • mōnstrōsus
  • mostellum

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Monstrum.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/monstrum. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·