monstrous

comparative more monstrous · superlative most monstrous

1. Hideous or frightful.

   So bad a death argues a monstrous life.

   c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]

2. Enormously large.

   a monstrous height

   3 more examples

   The chiding billovv ſeemes to pelt the cloudes, / The vvinde ſhak'd ſurge, vvith high and monſtrous mayne, / Seemes to caſt vvater, on the burning Beare, […]

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 21

   Possibly monster pumpkins may become still more monstrous by the shoots being ringed, and so may other vegetables and fruits where quality is of less importance than mere size.

   1901 December 20, “The Ringing of Plants”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record, volume 4, number 21, page 663

   Mr. Burns is similarly perfectly cast as a heartless capitalist willing to do anything for a quick buck, even if it means endangering the lives of those around him and Marge elegantly rounds out the main cast as a good, pure-hearted and overly indulgent woman who sees the big, good heart (literally and metaphorically) of a monstrous man-brute.

   2012 April 29, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 15 Aug 2012

3. Freakish or grotesque.

   The irregular and monstrous births

   1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 3, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   He, therefore, that refuses to do good to them whom he is bound to love […] is unnatural and monstrous in his affections.

   1650, Jeremy Taylor, The rule and exercises of holy living

4. Of, or relating to a mythical monster; full of monsters.

   Where thou, perhaps, under the whelming tide / Visitest the bottom of the monstrous world.

   1637 (date written; published 1638), John Milton, “Lycidas”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC

5. obsoleteMarvellous; exceedingly strange; fantastical.

   The whole story was monstrous, and only worthy of the superstitious days in which it was written.

   1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC

6. derogatoryoffensiveDisabled; crippled. (A severe slur used to describe persons with disabilities.)