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monad
[ mon-ad, moh-nad ]
noun
- Biology.
- any simple, single-celled organism.
- any of various small, flagellate, colorless ameboids with one to three flagella, especially of the genus Monas.
- Chemistry. an element, atom, or group having a valence of one. Compare dyad ( def 3 ), triad ( def 2a ).
- Philosophy.
- (in the metaphysics of Leibniz) an unextended, indivisible, and indestructible entity that is the basic or ultimate constituent of the universe and a microcosm of it.
- (in the philosophy of Giordano Bruno) a basic and irreducible metaphysical unit that is spatially and psychically individuated.
- any basic metaphysical entity, especially having an autonomous life.
- a single unit or entity.
monad
/ ˈmɒnæd; ˈməʊ- /
noun
- -ads-ades-əˌdiːz philosophy
- any fundamental singular metaphysical entity, esp if autonomous
- (in the metaphysics of Leibnitz) a simple indestructible nonspatial element regarded as the unit of which reality consists
- (in the pantheistic philosophy of Giordano Bruno) a fundamental metaphysical unit that is spatially extended and psychically aware
- a single-celled organism, esp a flagellate protozoan
- an atom, ion, or radical with a valency of one
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Derived Forms
- moˈnadical, adjective
- moˈnadically, adverb
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Other Words From
- mo·nad·ic [m, uh, -, nad, -ik], mo·nadi·cal mo·nadal adjective
- mo·nadi·cal·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of monad1
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Example Sentences
The me is a monad, that is, an indivisible unity; of this there can be no doubt.
From the monad proceeds an indefinite duad, which is subordinate to the monad as to its cause.
Genius watches the monad through all his masks as he performs the metempsychosis of nature.
In short, each monad is a little Leibniz for ever increasing the sum of its knowledge.
All this carbon has played its part, and many parts in its time, as animal existences from monad up to man.
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