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
- A terrifying and dangerous creature; A bizarre or...
Ancestry of “monster”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | monstre | A monster or beast; a horrific or frightening... |
| 2 | Old French | monstre | monster |
| 3 | Latin | mōnstrum | — |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | monestrom | — |
Words derived from “monster”