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monaco

monk

noun MOH-nah-koh Rare

Origin: Medieval Latin monachus, from Greek monakhós 'solitary'.

Usage Note

Monaco as a common noun means 'monk'; its plural is i monaci and the feminine monaca means 'nun'. Do not confuse it with the place name Monaco (the principality, or the German city Munich), which is capitalised. The stress is antepenultimate: MO-na-co.

Examples

"Il monaco pregava in silenzio nel chiostro."

Natural Translation

The monk prayed silently in the cloister.

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