monarch English · revision 1486

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1439}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɒnək/ ''(UK)''; /ˈmɑnɚk/, /ˈmɑnɑɹk/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|monarke]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[bor|frm|monarque]] or directly [[bor|la-lat|monarcha]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[grc|μονάρχης|tr=monárkhēs]], [[m|grc|μόναρχος|tr=mónarkhos|t=one who rules alone]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[m|grc|μόνος|tr=mónos|t=alone, single]] (see [[mono-]]) and [[m|grc|ἄρχειν|tr=árkhein|t=to rule, be first]] (see [[-arch]]).^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A sole and absolute ruler of a state (probably before 1439 in Barnhart; c. 1450 in the OED; mid-15th century in Etymonline).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In modern use the word means a sovereign such as a king, queen or emperor, generally hereditary and with more or less limited powers.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Figuratively it is a person or thing that holds a dominant position (1581).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) In 19th-century slang a ''monarch'' was the coin called a sovereign (1851).^(OED 1989) The large orange and black American butterfly has been called the ''monarch'' since 1885–90.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The related word [[monarchy]] is older, before 1350.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1350 – ''monarchie''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1439 – ''monarke'', a sole ruler.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1581 – a dominant person or thing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1851 – a sovereign (coin, slang).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1890 – the monarch butterfly.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who reigns over a state, usually for life and by hereditary right, either as a sole and absolute ruler or as a [[sovereign]] with constitutionally limited authority, such as a [[king]] or [[empress]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person or thing that surpasses others in power or pre-eminence.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[monarch butterfly]], a large orange and black migratory butterfly that feeds on [[milkweed]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[monarchal]]

+ * [[Monarchian]]

+ * [[monarchical]]

+ * [[monarchism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[monarchy]]

+ * [[monarchist]]

+ * [[mono-]]

+ * [[-arch]]

+ * [[anarchy]]

+ * [[oligarch]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}