Hypertext Webster Gateway: "monstrous"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Monstrous \Mon"strous\, a. [OE. monstruous, F. monstrueux, fr.
L. monstruosus, fr. monstrum. See {Monster}.]
1. Marvelous; strange. [Obs.]

2. Having the qualities of a monster; deviating greatly from
the natural form or character; abnormal; as, a monstrous
birth. --Locke.

He, therefore, that refuses to do good to them whom
he is bound to love . . . is unnatural and monstrous
in his affections. --Jer. Taylor.

3. Extraordinary in a way to excite wonder, dislike,
apprehension, etc.; -- said of size, appearance, color,
sound, etc.; as, a monstrous height; a monstrous ox; a
monstrous story.

4. Extraordinary on account of ugliness, viciousness, or
wickedness; hateful; horrible; dreadful.

So bad a death argues a monstrous life. --Shak.

5. Abounding in monsters. [R.]

Where thou, perhaps, under the whelming tide
Visitest the bottom of the monstrous world.
--Milton.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Monstrous \Mon"strous\, adv.
Exceedingly; very; very much. ``A monstrous thick oil on the
top.'' --Bacon.

And will be monstrous witty on the poor. --Dryden.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

monstrous
adj 1: abnormally large
2: shockingly brutal or cruel; "murder is an atrocious crime";
"a grievous offense against morality"; "a grievous crime";
"no excess was too monstrous for them to commit" [syn: {atrocious},
{flagitious}, {grievous}, {heinous}]
3: distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and
hideous; "tales of grotesque serpents eight fathoms long
that churned the seas"; "twisted into monstrous shapes"
[syn: {grotesque}, {unnatural}]


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