History

Definition of ammunition

The etymological origin of the term ammunition can be found in Latin. It derives exactly from “munitio”, which can be translated as “load that is put into firearms” and is the result of the sum of the following lexical components: -The verb “munire”, which is synonymous with “reinforce” or […]

Definition of mosaic

To discover the meaning of the term mosaic, it is necessary, first of all, to know its etymological origin. In this case, it must be emphasized that it derives from Latin, specifically from the word “mosaicum” which, in turn, emanates from the expression “opus mosaicum”. With this, what was intended was to refer to the mosaics of […]

Definition of monument

The concept of monument, which comes from the Latin word monumentum, has different uses. The term can be used to refer to a work that is installed in a public place with the aim of paying homage to something or someone. Statues, busts and other types of sculptures can be considered monuments when they function as a means of […]

Definition of Monophysitism

Monophysitism is a religious doctrine based on the rejection of the dual nature of Jesus Christ. Monophysitists, therefore, do not believe that Jesus has both a divine condition and a human condition: they only attribute the divine character to him. According to Catholic dogma, in Christ the divine nature and the human nature coexist […]

Definition of monochord

The term monochord has its etymological origin in the French language. It is an adjective that can be used in different contexts. The first meaning of monochord mentioned by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) in its dictionary refers to a musical instrument that has a single string. In this context, it can be said that the […]

Definition of monk

The Byzantine Greek word monachós, which can be translated as “alone”, derived from the late Latin monăchus, which in Old Occitan became monge. However, it should not be overlooked that this word also comes from Greek. Specifically, it derives from “monakhos”, which can be translated as “solitary” or […]

Definition of monastery

The Greek word monastḗrion came into late Latin as monasterĭum, which in our language became monastery. This is the name given to a group of buildings where monks live together in a community. Monasteries are buildings that, long ago, were located on the outskirts of towns. Originally, the term referred to a dwelling […]

Definition of mummy

The etymology of mummy leads us to the classical Arabic word mūmiyā, a word that referred to the bitumen used in the embalming of corpses. This term, in turn, derives from the Persian mum, which can be translated as “wax”. A mummy is a corpse that, whether by a procedure carried out by man or naturally, […]

Definition of mill

With its etymological origin in the late Latin word molīnum, a mill is a machine used for grinding. Its operation is based on the movement generated by wind, water or another driving force. Mills, therefore, are devices used for grinding: that is, to convert a material into a liquid.

Definition of missionary

The etymological origin of the term missionary can be found in Latin. It is precisely necessary to indicate that it is the result of the union of these lexical components: -The word missus, which can be translated as “sent”. -The suffix -sion, which is used to indicate “action and effect”. -The suffix -ero, which comes from […]