monarch

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The ruler of an absolute monarchy or the head of state of a constitutional monarchy.

   Never was monarch better fear'd and lov'd / Than is your Majesty.

2. 2
   noun

   A monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and others of genus Danaus, found primarily in North America.

   But I know the monarchs are close by, their orange-and-black wings folded, dusted, and baked by heat, ready to flee south.

3. 3
   noun

   A police officer.

   ‘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.”’.

4. 4
   noun

   large migratory American butterfly having deep orange wings with black and white markings

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Monarch came into late Middle English through Late Latin from Greek monarkhēs, formed from monos, “alone,” and arkhein, “to rule.” Its original structure therefore denotes a sole ruler.

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.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary