Middle English Dictionary Entry
monstruǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | monstruǒus adj. Also monstruos, monstrous & (errors) monstronous, menstruose. |
| Etymology | OF monstrüos, monstrueuse & L monstruōsus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Unnatural, deformed, monsterlike; hideous; (b) appalling, horrible.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5872 : Leuyathan..þe snake, þe monstruous dragoun, Ful of venym and of harde grace.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7796 : He hadde A wonder archer..Of forme & schap in maner monstruous..Fro þe nauele vpward he was man And lower doun lik an hors y-schapid.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.3.32 : The maryneres hadden..dronken the wikkide drynkes. Thei that weren woxen swyn..Noon of hir lymes ne duelleth with hem hool, but thei han lost the voys and the body; oonly hir thought duelleth with hem stable, that wepeth and bywayleth the monstruous [vrr. monstronous, Monstruos] chaungynge that thei suffren.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)60/19 : Wemen browȝte forthe monstruous childeren.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)3371 : She may be lykned to chymere, Whiche ys a best Monstruous.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)26 : Zorastes, whan he was bore, low as no child ded but he; and this lawhing was no tokne of good, for it was monstrows, that is to seyn, ageyn course of kynde.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)8742 : I sawh that eyen hadde she noon..Wych was to me a thyng hydous; She sempte, a best monstruows, Outward by hyr contenaunce.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13702 : I sawh a wekke, Old and hydous, Off look and cher ryht monstrous, Pyled and seynt as any kaat, And moosy-heryd as a raat.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.203-5 : The same reason may be assignede of the moustruous [L monstruosis] peple whiche we schewede afore of the moustruous partes.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.133 : This pope Benedicte appered to a man after his dethe in a monstruous [Trev.: wonderful] similitude, with the tayle of an asse and a hedde lyke as of a beere.
b
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.214 : A wondir þing it were, Abhominable and verrey monstruouse [vr. menstruouse], If..vesselles þat ben riche and preciouse Schulde so despysed..be.