monsterverbond

Dutch

Etymology

Compound of monster (“monster”) +‎ verbond (“alliance, union”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɔn.stər.vərˌbɔnt/, /ˈmɔn.stər.vɛrˌbɔnt/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: mon‧ster‧ver‧bond

Noun

monsterverbond n (plural monsterverbonden)

1. an alliance or other form of cooperation between opponents to take on a common enemy, an unholy alliance [from mid 19th c.]

Usage notes

• The term had a strongly pejorative connotation well into the twentieth century, but this connotation has largely disappeared in contemporary use.