Monitor
/ˈmɒn.ɪ.tər/noun
A device used to observe or check the progress or quality of something.
Did you know?The term 'monitor' derives from a word meaning 'to warn' or 'to remind', evoking the image of a guardian spirit keeping watch.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*monē-
“to warn, advise, or remind, suggesting a protective or guiding role.”
Latin
Latin
monitorem
“the one who warns or advises, often used in contexts of guardianship.”
Old French
Old French
monstre
“to show or to warn, linking observation with guidance.”
14th Century
Middle English
monitour
“one who gives warnings or advice, a precursor to the modern sense of oversight.”
Modern English
English
monitor
“a device or person that observes and reports, emphasizing the protective and advisory origins.”