monologue
UK[ˈmɒn.ə.lɒɡ]US[ˈmɑː.nə.lɑːɡ]
n
a long speech by one actor in a play or film, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast programme.
n
a long, uninterrupted speech by one person, especially one that prevents others from talking.
Morpheme Breakdown
mono
logue
mono
one
logue
speech
Etymology
the word 'monologue' is a direct borrowing from french, which itself was formed from greek elements. it combines 'monos', meaning 'single' or 'alone', with 'logos', which signifies 'speech' or 'discourse'. the term entered english in the 17th century, originally describing a dramatic scene where a character speaks alone, directly reflecting its literal meaning of 'a single speech'. over time, its usage broadened beyond the stage to describe any lengthy, uninterrupted speech by one person, whether in conversation, literature, or performance, maintaining the core idea of solitary discourse.
Analysis
Structure: mono (one) + logue (speech)
mono is a combining form from greek 'monos', meaning 'alone, single, only'. logue is a combining form from greek 'logos', meaning 'word, speech, discourse'.
Examples
the play's most powerful moment is the villain's chilling monologue.
he launched into a long monologue about his travels, not noticing his audience's boredom.
the comedian's opening monologue cleverly addressed current political events.