Where does “monster” come from?

Monster comes from Middle English monstre, from Old French monstre, from Latin monstrare meaning "to show," derived from Latin monere meaning "to warn," which is related to Latin monstrum meaning "portent" or "unnatural occurrence."

monster (English): A terrifying and dangerous creature; A bizarre or...

Definitions

  1. A terrifying and dangerous creature; A bizarre or...

Ancestry of “monster”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishmonstreA monster or beast; a horrific or frightening...
2Old Frenchmonstremonster
3Latinmōnstruma divine omen indicating misfortune, an evil omen, portent
4Proto-Italicmonestrom

Words derived from “monster

Every word from Proto-Italic monestrom