menstruous

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman menstruus, Middle French menstrueus, and their source, Late Latin menstruosus (“menstruating”), from Latin mēnstruum.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛnstɹʊəs/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛnstɹʊəs/

Adjective

menstruous (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to menstruation; menstrual.
2. (of a female) Currently undergoing menstruation.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Esdras 5:8:

     There shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall be oft sent out again, and the wild beasts shall change their places, and menstruous women shall bring forth monsters:

   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:
     , New York, 2001, p.213:

     Foolish, drunken, or hairbrain women most part bring forth children like unto themslves, morosus et languidos, and so likewise he that lies with a menstruous woman.

3. (obsolete) Monthly.

Synonyms

• menstrual
• catamenial
• mensal

References

• menstruous in An American Dictionary of the English Language, by Noah Webster, 1828.
• “menstruous”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “menstruous”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.