monster
UK: ˈmɒnstə | US: ˈmɑːnstər
n. 1. A large, frightening imaginary creature, often with unnatural or grotesque features.
n. 2. A cruel, wicked, or inhuman person.
n. 3. Something unusually large or powerful for its kind (e.g., "a monster truck").
monster = mon<warn> + ster<noun suffix>
- mon<warn>: From Latin monstrum ("omen, portent, monstrous creature"), derived from monere ("to warn"). The root reflects the ancient belief that monsters were divine warnings or signs of impending doom.
- ster<noun suffix>: A nominalizing suffix, often indicating agency or association (e.g., "gangster," "trickster"). Here, it solidifies the word as a noun.
Etymology Origin:
The word "monster" traces back to Latin monstrum, which originally referred to supernatural omens (like deformed animals) interpreted as divine messages. Over time, it shifted from describing prophetic signs to embodying the terrifying creatures themselves. The root monere ("to warn") underscores the idea of monsters as manifestations of divine displeasure or impending chaos. This evolution mirrors how cultural fears transform abstract warnings into tangible, mythic beings.
The children hid under their beds, terrified of the monster in the closet.
History remembers the dictator as a monster who oppressed millions.
The scientists discovered a deep-sea monster with bioluminescent eyes.
Her guilt grew like a monster, consuming her thoughts.
The storm unleashed monster waves that battered the coastline.