Other forms: monarchs
A monarch is a king or queen who rules by inheritance. The reigning monarch, a constitutional monarch, the monarch's role.
The inheritance is the defining feature: a monarch holds the position by birth rather than by election. In a constitutional monarchy the powers are largely ceremonial and exercised on advice, which is the British arrangement. About forty countries still have one. Note that the monarch butterfly is named for its size and colour rather than for any royal connection.
1nounmonarchA king or queen who rules by inheritance.
“The monarch opened parliament with a speech from the throne.”
2nounlargeA large orange and black butterfly.
“Every autumn, millions of monarchs fly south to spend the winter in Mexico.”
monarch is a hereditary ruler.
Greek monarches is monos, alone, plus archein, to rule. Monopoly, monk and anarchy come from the same parts.
Ancient Greek
μονάρχης
Latin
monarcha
Middle French
monarque
English, today
monarch
Built from
From Middle French monarque, from Latin monarcha, from Ancient Greek μονάρχης, variant of μόναρχος (“sole ruler”), from μόνος (“only”) + ἀρχός (“leader”), equivalent to mono + arch.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA