mondo

¹

[ mon-doh ]

noun

, Zen.

, plural mon·dos.

1. a question to a student for which an immediate answer is demanded, the spontaneity of which is often illuminating.

mondo

²

adverb

1. very; extremely:

   mondo cool.

adjective

1. large; big:

   a mondo history paper.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mondo¹

First recorded in 1925–30; from Japanese mondō, earlier mondau “rapid question and answer, catechesis between a rōshi (master) and student,” from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese wèn “inquire” + dá “reply”

Origin of mondo²

First recorded in 1965–70; from Italian mondo “world,” extracted from the film Mondo Cane ( “A Dog's World” ) (1962) and reinterpreted as an adverb in Italian or pseudo-Italian phrases such as mondo bizarro “very bizarre,” literally, “bizarre world”

Example Sentences

Fior di granato!Se li sospiri mie fossere fuocco,Tutto il mondo sarebbe buciato.

From Project Gutenberg

This being received in cold silence, he continues: Noi giriamo il mondo!

From Project Gutenberg

The French—they thought themselves lords of the world—signori del mondo!

From Project Gutenberg

La gola, il dado e l'otiose piumeHanno dal' mondo ogni virt sbandita.

From Project Gutenberg

Tutto il mondo paese: a proverb which would serve as an excellent motto for the Folk-lore Society.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amazing
• astounding
• awesome
• colossal
• dreadful
• enormous
• excellent
• exceptional
• extraordinary
• fabulous
• fantastic
• formidable
• great
• immense
• incredible
• marvelous
• massive
• monumental
• prodigious
• terrible