Talk:Monster

Two points:

Judging from what links here, almost everything that points here relates to monsters as a sort of legendary creature. I don't see anything that links here that relates to the teratology sense. Teratology is a stub in any case. I would rewrite that paragraph and move it to teratology.

There's talk at Talk:Role-playing bestiary discussing merging this article, mythical beast, and role-playing bestiary. What should the resulting article be called? I'd propose legendary creature, but monster probably is the most generic word for most, but not all of these.

I don't know a whole lot about the Bogeyman, but I added it as children often believe that such a monster is real. WhisperToMe 01:41, 14 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Origin of the Word "Monster"

The etymology is off. OED says it's from monere (to warn) not monstrare (to show). I've never wiki'd, so I'm not going to edit the original, but someone should check this out. I don't know, in disagreements over the etymology of English words, we should probably go with the OED, right?

Goldberg

According to Jonah Goldberg at http://www.nationalreview.com/goldberg/goldberg200502090800.asp:

"The original meaning of the word "monster" derives, via Old French, from a word for "divine omen or warning." The Latin monstrum comes from the verb monere, meaning 'warn.' A monster was a deformed person or animal that people mistook for a harbinger of evil or bad spirits. The idea that monsters were horrible creatures came later. It wasn't until perhaps as late as the 16th century when the literary notion that monsters were big slobbery dragons and beasts was well established."

Has anyone else come across word origins for the word "monster" that conflict with those in the article?

MSTCrow 04:45, Feb 10, 2005 (UTC) Hmm, kinda strange he says that 'it wasn't until the 16th century when the literary notion that monsters were.. ..well established'. I mean, we've got the beowulf epos from the early Middle Ages where there are monstrous creatures like Grendel and 'the dragon'. Also, throughout the Middle Ages we can read about dogheads, hybrids and dragon-like seamonsters in many forms and sizes (as can be read in 'the life of saint columba, created around 700). Why do you use such a weak and meaningless source anyway? I will add some info later to elevate this superficial entry about monsters on wikipedia. For those who are truly interested in the subject, here are some suggestions: - Monsters and the Monstrous in Medieval Northwest Europe, a bunch of essays editted by K.E. Olsen and L.A.J.R. Houwen (2001). - The Monstrous Races in Medieval Art and Thought, by John Block Friedman (Harvard Uni Press 1981). - Of Giants, by Jeffrey Jerome Cohen (Minneapolis 1999).

Etymonline, Webster and the American Heritage Dictionary also say "warn" rather than Show. The article should definitely be changed. --Mr. Billion 16:22, 24 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

And I've just changed it. Looks like Wiktionary needs to be altered, too. --Mr. Billion 16:32, 24 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Since when do verbs have plurals?

Article says: "medieval vulgar Latin verb monstrare (plural monstrum)". Since when does a verb have a plural? I am assuming monstrare is the infinitive, and monstrum is a participle or gerund or something of the sort.

Should be "past participle." Fixed.129.170.221.154 18:48, 9 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Verbs do have plurals. (And a single verb does have a plural. :P ) Tlogmer ( talk / contributions ) 15:06, 4 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

"Monsters were generally composed under a group that befell humans." I can't parse this sentance. Tlogmer ( talk / contributions ) 15:06, 4 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

ha ha ha! Jonah Goldberg is absolutely wrong and crazy! The concept of monstrum exists ever since the Roman Age, developed above all during the Middle ages, and was utilized to mean any sort of prodigy or miracle, even natural prodigies (i.e. freaks) contributions 18:25, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

what monsters want

well what i think about monsters is they an't that scary if you an't scared of them. all the monsters want someone to know thats all they want .

PLEASYOBAC

What's this?

PLEASYOBAC This creature lives in woods and is found in suburb areas. It can get to 8 feet tall and is green some sightings say its body is blue but we have no photo evidence of a blue Pleasyobac yet.Please dont eat pizza rolls near this monster and if you hear a loud screetch noise run away! haha tessa we tricked you

Looks like spam or vandalism to me. I don't know how to delete it, someone else please?

regards

Menno

MNijhuis 19:47, 11 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

A lot of this article has weird phrasing and could probably use a rewrite.