English word monk comes from Latin monachus (monk), which in turn comes from Ancient Greek μοναχός (monakhós - single, alone) which probably ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *mey- (small)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *mey- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | Small. |
| μόνος | Ancient Greek (to 1453) (grc) | Alone. |
| μοναχός | Ancient Greek (to 1453) (grc) | Single, solitary. |
| monachus | Latin (lat) | (Medieval Latin) monk (male member of a religious community). |
| monachus | Late Latin (LL) | monk |
| munuc | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | Monk. |
| monk | Middle English (1100-1500) (enm) | Monk. |
| monk | English (en) | To act like a monk; especially to be contemplative.. To be a monk.. To be attached in a way that sticks out.. To be intoxicated or confused.. To monkey or meddle; to behave in a manner that is not systematic. (printing) A blotch or spot of ink on a printed page, caused by the ink not being properly distributed; distinguished from a friar, or white spot caused by a deficiency of ink.. (slang) [...] |