monstrous

Adjective

monstrous (comparative more monstrous, superlative most monstrous)

1. Hideous or frightful.
   • So bad a death argues a monstrous life.c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […]...
2. Enormously large.
   • a monstrous height
   • The chiding billovv ſeemes to pelt the cloudes, / The vvinde ſhak'd ſurge, vvith high and monſtrous mayne, / Seemes to caſt vvater, on the burning Beare, […]c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act...
3. Freakish or grotesque.
   • The irregular and monstrous births1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 3, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC
   • He, therefore, that refuses to do good to them whom he is bound to love […] is unnatural and monstrous in his affections.1650, Jeremy Taylor, The rule and exercises of holy living
4. Of, or relating to a mythical monster; full of monsters.
   • Where thou, perhaps, under the whelming tide / Visitest the bottom of the monstrous world.1637 (date written; published 1638), John Milton, “Lycidas”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC
5. (obsolete) Marvellous; exceedingly strange; fantastical.
   • The whole story was monstrous, and only worthy of the superstitious days in which it was written.1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC
6. (derogatory, offensive) Disabled; crippled. (A severe slur used to describe persons with disabilities.)