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 March 3, 2012
 
Word of the Week--"Monstrosity"
Definition--Monstrosity- n. anything that is frightful or hideous; a grotesque person or object.
Discussion--I believe the first time I ever heard the word monstrosity was when I was listening to the epic Queen ballad "Bohemian Rhapsody." The song is probably most recognized by younger listeners from the hysterical driving scene in the movie "Wayne's World." Some of you may remember the line: But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me Monstrosity is a word that carries a highly negative connotation. You do not hear many people comment to the parents of a newborn baby, "oh, your child is fabulous, what a wonderful monstrosity!" If this were the case you would see many more mothers in tears. No, monstrosity is used to refer to something that is hideously ugly or repulsive. What are some things
that we could refer to as monstrosities? Godzilla, dilapidated buildings, dumptrucks, and sadly, for some of us, our prom dates!
Etymology--Monstrosity- a derivative of the word monstrous (unnatural, hideous) which is derived from the Latin monstruosus.
Note that the foreign translations also share the Latin root with the English translation. Foreign Translations Dutch:
monstruositeit (de)
French:
monstruosité (f)
German:
Monstrum (nt)
Italian:
mostruosità
Spanish:
monstruosidad
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