
he Monomachy of Prince Mstislav the Daring and Prince Rededia of the Adyghes, 1812. Art: Andrey Ivanovich Ivanov
A.Word.A.Daywith Anu Garg
monomachy
PRONUNCIATION:
MEANING:
noun: A fight between two people or forces.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek mono- (one) + -machy (battle). Earliest documented use: 1582.
NOTES:
If a monomachy is a fight between two people, what’s a duomachy? Also a fight between two people. Best not to spar with the English language. Don’t duel with a language, any language. Here’s how it works: mono here refers to the number of contests, not the number of contestants. In some battles, one champion from each army engaged in a duel and the outcome is taken as if the whole army fought. Saves a lot of casualties, though not much confusion for the etymologist.