Monolith
/ˈmɒn.ə.lɪθ/noun
A large single upright block of stone, often used in monuments or structures.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, monoliths were often believed to be gateways to the divine, symbolizing a connection between the earthly and the celestial.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*litos
“stone”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μόνος (monos)
“alone, single”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λίθος (lithos)
“stone”
Middle French
French
monolithe
“single stone, a term for large stone structures”
Early 19th Century
English
monolith
“a large stone, especially in the context of prehistoric monuments”
Modern English
English
monolith
“referring to both physical stone structures and metaphorically to large, unified systems or organizations.”
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