menstruating
UK[ˈmen.stru.eɪ.tɪŋ]US[ˈmen.stru.eɪ.tɪŋ]
v
(of a woman or female animal) to discharge blood and other material from the lining of the uterus as part of a monthly cycle
Morpheme Breakdown
menstru
at
ing
menstru
month
at
verb suffix
ing
present participle suffix
Etymology
The word 'menstruating' traces its lineage directly to the Latin word mensis, meaning "month." This connection is foundational, as the menstrual cycle is intrinsically linked to the lunar month. The adjective menstruus (monthly) was formed from mensis, and from this, the Medieval Latin verb menstruare (to menstruate) was derived. The English verb "menstruate" was formed by adding the verbal suffix '-ate' to the stem 'menstru-', directly embedding the concept of a monthly occurrence into its very structure. The present participle form 'menstruating' then simply applies the standard English '-ing' suffix to denote the ongoing action of this cyclical biological process.
Analysis
Structure: menstru (month) + at (verb suffix) + ing (present participle suffix)
- menstru: From Latin menstruus (monthly), from mensis (month). Functions as the core root indicating a monthly cycle.
- at: A verb-forming suffix from Latin -atus, used to form verbs from nouns or adjectives.
- ing: The English present participle or gerund suffix, indicating an ongoing action or state.
Examples
She was absent from work because she was menstruating and experiencing severe cramps.
The study tracked women who were menstruating regularly.
Many athletes worry about their performance while they are menstruating.