- monolith
- 1848, "column consisting of a single large block of stone," from Fr. monolithe, from L. monolithus (adj.) "consisting of a single stone," from Gk. monotlithos, from monos "single, alone" + lithos "stone." Monolithic is first attested 1825. The transf. and fig. use of the noun is from 1934, of the adj. from 1920.