mostro Italian · revision 38023

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1282, Restoro d'Arezzo|origins=la moneō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmos.tro/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mostro''' ''m'' (plural mostri)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian also wrote ''monstro'' and ''monstru''.^(TLIO)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|mōnstrum|t=portent, prodigy]], a learned word, through the older form “monstro”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|2519)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin noun first named a prodigy revealing the will of the gods, and so “a thing against nature”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Prati 1951)^(DEI|2519) It is probably an instrument noun from [[m|la|moneō|t=to warn]], from [[itc-pro|*monestrom]], though DELI notes that the formation, seen also in [[m|la|lūstrum]], is exceptional.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary) Devoto derives it from the root “*mon-”, the strong grade of “*men-” “think”.^(Devoto 1968) From the idea of a thing to be pointed out comes the Latin verb [[m|la|mōnstrō]], the source of [[mostrare]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The word is pan-Romance: [[fr|monstre]], [[es|monstruo]] and [[pt|monstro]].^(DEI|2519)^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Wiktionary) The adjective [[mostruoso]] continues Latin [[m|la|mōnstruōsus]], while [[mostruosità]] was formed in Italian.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is in Restoro d'Arezzo, 1282, for a mythological or legendary creature, one whose body is abnormal or joins parts of different beings.^(DELI 1999)^(TLIO)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Already in the 13th century the word could be used in praise, for a prodigy or marvel (Ciampolo Ugurgieri), as in Petrarch's “o de le donne altero e raro mostro”, O proud and rare wonder among women.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) A creature born malformed is a ''mostro'' in the 14th century (the vernacular Saint Augustine, Dante); Benedetto Varchi defined such monsters, before 1565, as beings with too many, too few or ill-proportioned limbs.^(DELI 1999) The sense “very ugly or very cruel person” is recorded about 1446 in Giovanni Gherardi.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In modern use the word also names the perpetrator of atrocious crimes, especially sexual ones, as in ''il mostro di Firenze'', and, positively, a person of extraordinary talent: ''un mostro sacro'' is a figure of unquestioned standing in a field.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1282 – Restoro d'Arezzo uses ''mostro'' and ''mostruoso''.^(DELI 1999)^(TLIO)

+ * 13th century – Ciampolo Ugurgieri uses it for a prodigy.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – It names a malformed creature, in the vernacular Saint Augustine and in Dante.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1446 – Giovanni Gherardi uses it for a very ugly or cruel person.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1565 – Benedetto Varchi defines monsters, ''mostruosità'' is first recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1890 – ''Mostriciattolo'' “little monster” is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A legendary or mythological creature combining different natures, human or animal: ''Il Minotauro era un mostro metà uomo e metà toro.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A person of repulsive appearance, ''(jocular)'' someone who looks a fright: ''Con quei capelli sembri un mostro!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(biology, medicine)'' A [[m|en|fetus]], animal or plant with severe congenital [[m|en|malformation|alt=malformations]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A cruel, wicked person; the perpetrator of atrocious crimes, especially sexual ones.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A person of extraordinary ability in some field; a [[m|en|prodigy]]: ''Negli scacchi è un vero mostro.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mostruoso]]

+ * [[mostruosità]]

+ * [[mostriciattolo]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mostrare]]

+ * [[monito]]

+ * [[la|mōnstrum]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Mostro sacro'' is a person whose standing in their field is undisputed.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GRADIT 2003) GRADIT also lists a literary ''mostro'', the shortened past participle of [[mostrare]] “shown”.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}