monstrosity
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English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English monstruosite, from Middle French monstruosité and its etymon Late Latin mōnstruōsitās, mōnstrōsitās (“monstrousness”), from Latin mōnstruōsus, mōnstrōsus.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
monstrosity (plural monstrosities)
- An organism showing abnormal development or deformity.
- 1859 November 24, Charles Darwin, “Variation under Domestication”, in On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 8:
- Geoffroy St. Hilaire's experiments show that unnatural treatment of the embryo causes monstrosities; and monstrosities cannot be separated by any clear line of distinction from mere variations.
- A monstrous person, thing, or act.
- 2023 March 22, Dr Joseph Brennan, “Grand buildings on the list... and lost”, in RAIL, number 979, page 51:
- St Enoch Centre (1989) - a glass-domed monstrosity of a shopping centre - stands on the site of the station today.
- The state of being monstrous.
Translations[edit]
Monstrous thing, person or act
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State of being monstrous
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