|mänyə|ment ə l adjective
Etymology: Late Latin monumentalis, from Latin monumentum monument + -alis -al
1.
a. obsolete : of or relating to a sepulcher
that whiter skin of hers than snow, and smooth as monumental alabaster — Shakespeare
b. : serving as a monument
monumental chapels of this style — Thomas Rickman
2. : resembling a monument: as
a. : having impressive bulk or size : immense , massive
the entrance on this side is vigorously indicated … by a great monumental carriageway — American Guide Series: New York City
the steps are flanked by monumental sculptures — American Guide Series: Louisiana
he could paint superbly on a monumental scale — Herbert Read
b. : marked by outstanding quality : highly significant : inestimable
in this monumental work the entire storehouse of the world's art is surveyed — advt
he was too modest, and had too varied tastes … to care to be the monumental critic — T.S.Eliot
3. : of, relating to, or belonging to a monument : occurring on a monument
failed to carry the use of the arch into monumental architecture — A.L.Kroeber
a monumental script — Maurice Vieyra
4. : very great — used as an intensive
notable for their monumental respectability — John Kobler
monumental failures of the past — W.E.Swinton
their inertia is as monumental as their grief — John Mason Brown
Synonyms: see massive , monstrous