monarch means A surname. It carries an Arena rating of 1418, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, monarch ranks #2,145 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #2,289 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #2,318 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #2,527 of 17,128 for Most Ponderous Words.
monarch is pronounced /ˈmɒnək/.
Why “monarch” is a great word
A sole or hereditary ruler of a state, or a large migratory butterfly. From Middle French *monarque*, from Late Latin *monarcha*, from Ancient Greek *μονάρχης* (*monárkhēs*), variant of *μόναρχος* (*mónarkhos*), from *μόνος* (*mónos*, "only, sole") + *ἀρχός* (*arkhós*, "leader, ruler"). Unlike 'sovereign,' a term for any supreme ruler, or 'president,' an elected steward of a republic, 'monarch' implies a singular life fused with a crown—inherited, absolute, and lifelong. It is the velvet weight of a scepter in a gloved hand, the solitary flash of an orange wing over a continent, and the absolute stillness at the center of a court's whirling intrigue—a word binding the majesty of rule to the fragility of a single, conspicuous life, a solitary flight against the sky of history.
Etymology
From Middle French monarque, from Late Latin monarcha, from Ancient Greek μονάρχης (monárkhēs), variant of μόναρχος (mónarkhos, “sole ruler”), from μόνος (mónos, “only”) + ἀρχός (arkhós, “leader”), equivalent to mono- + -arch. * (butterfly): See monarch butterfly.
name
- A surname.
- Locations in Canada:; A hamlet in Lethbridge County, Alberta.
- Locations in Canada:; The Monarch, a mountain in British Columbia.
- Locations in Canada:; Two other peaks with the affix "mountain": Monarch Mountain (Alberta) and Monarch Mountain (British Columbia).
- A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community near Monarch Pass, Chaffee County, Colorado.
- A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Cascade County, Montana.
- A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Lee County, Virginia.
- A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia.
- A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Sheridan County, Wyoming.
noun
- The ruler of an absolute monarchy or the head of state of a constitutional monarchy.e.g.“Never was monarch better fear'd and lov'd / Than is your Majesty.” — 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount,
- A monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and others of genus Danaus, found primarily in North America.e.g.“But I know the monarchs are close by, their orange-and-black wings folded, dusted, and baked by heat, ready to flee south.” — 2019, Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, Jonathan Cape, page 223:
- A police officer.e.g.“‘Skippy gets off. An ya know the first thing e says to them monarch? E turns round on em an yelps, “An now ya can just gimme back that bottle.”’” — 1961, Nene Gare, The Fringe Dwellers, Text Classics, published 2012, page 41:
- A stag which has sixteen or more points or tines on its antlers.
- The chief or best thing of its kind.
- Any bird of the family Monarchidae.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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