mono-

views updated May 17 2018

mono- comb. form of Gr. mónos alone, only, single, occurring in numerous words adopted from Gr. (many through late L. or medL.), but in recent times combined with words or stems of any origin, as monocycle, monodrama, monoplane, monotint, monoxide. The following early: monochord one-stringed musical instrument, etc. XV. — (O)F. monocorde — late L. monochordon — Gr. monókhordon, sb. use of n. of monókhordos having a single string. monochrome painting in different tints of one colour XVII; representation in one colour XIX; the earlier use — medL. monochrōma, evolved from Gr. (L.) monokhrṓmatos of one colour; later — F. monochrome — Gr. monṓkhrōmos. monogamy XVII. — F. — ecclL. — Gr. (gámos marriage). monogram
A. † sketch without shading or colour;

B. character composed of two or more letters interwoven XVII; in sense A — L. monogrammus; in sense B — F. monogramme — late L. monogramma, f. Gr. *monógrammos. monograph (nat. hist.) separate treatise on a species, genus, etc.; (more widely) one on a single object or topic. XIX. repl. earlier monography (XVIII) — modL. monographia. monolith single block, mass, pillar of stone. XIX. — F. monolithe — Gr. monólithos (lithos stone). monologue XVII. — F. monophysīte XVII. — ecclL. monophysita — ecclGr. monophuslī́ēs (Gr. phīsis nature). monothelite XVI. — modL. monothelī́ta — (with assim. to -īta, -ITE) late Gr. monothelētēs, f. thélein will. monotheism, monotheist XVII. monotone having but one tone or note XVIII; sb. utterance on one tone XVII. — modL. monotonus — Gr. monótonos. monotonous XVIII. monotony XVIII. — F. — Gr. monotoníā. monotype XIX.

mono-

views updated Jun 27 2018

mono- (also mon- before a vowel) • comb. form 1. one; alone; single: monorail. ∎  with an extreme, singular character to the point of dominance or exclusion: monolithic monomania monopoly.2. Chem. (forming names of compounds) containing one atom or group of a specified kind: monoamine.

monorail

views updated May 11 2018

mon·o·rail / ˈmänəˌrāl/ • n. a railroad in which the track consists of a single rail, typically elevated, with the trains suspended from it or balancing on it.

mono-

views updated May 29 2018

mono- From the Greek monos, meaning ‘alone’, a prefix meaning ‘single’ or ‘one’.

mono-

views updated May 08 2018

mono- From the Greek monos meaning ‘alone’, a prefix meaning ‘single’ or ‘one’.