monster English · revision 4882

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a. 1300|origins=la monstrum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈmɒn.stər/, US /ˈmɑːn.stɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|monstre]], [[bor|fro|monstre]] and directly from [[la|mōnstrum|t=divine omen, portent; monster]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a derivative of monēre “to remind, warn”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*men-|t=to think]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[demonstrate]], [[monitor]] and [[admonish]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A malformed animal or human, a creature with a birth defect: before 1300 in the OED, before 1325 in Barnhart, in Cursor Mundi.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Such abnormal creatures were taken as signs of coming evil.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By the late 14th century it was used of fabulous creatures made of the parts of different animals, such as the centaur and the griffin (about 1385 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) An animal of vast size is from the 1520s (1530 in the OED),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a person of inhuman cruelty or wickedness from the 1550s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The adjective, of extraordinary size, is from 1837.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) In Old English the monster Grendel was called an aglæca.^(Etymonline) In Australian English the verb ''monster'', to harass, is from 1967.^(OED 1989) ''Monster film'' is from 1941 and ''monster movie'' by 1958.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1300 – a malformed creature.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1385 – an imaginary beast.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1530 – a huge animal or thing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1556 – a cruel or wicked person.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1837 – adjective, huge.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1958 – ''monster movie''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An imaginary [[creature]] that is large, ugly and frightening.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A very cruel or wicked person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something extremely large.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An animal or plant that is badly malformed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(informal)'' Extremely large.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[monsterlike]]

+ * [[monstrosity]]

+ * [[Gila monster]]

+ * [[green-eyed monster]]

+ * [[hopeful monster]]

+ * [[Loch Ness Monster]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[monstrous]]

+ * [[demonstrate]]

+ * [[monitor]]

+ * [[admonish]]

+ * [[muster]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}