noun / adjective
monster
MAHN-stur/ˈmɑːnstər/
A frightening imaginary creature.
A huge, scaled monster emerges from the mist.
Etymology
Latin monstrum connected an unnatural creature with a portent: abnormal animals were regarded as warnings of impending evil. The word later extended to fabulous creatures assembled from parts of different animals.
In context
minds of the medieval period, such as Geoffrey Chaucer, Leonardo da Vinci, and Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, wrote of the basilisk in their works, often adding terrifying new powers for the monster
More examples
- The children pretend a monster lives under the bridge.
- She dresses as a monster for Halloween.
- In the story, sea monsters attack passing ships.
Forms
monster · monsters
monstrous adjective — Frightening or hideous like a monster.