monocle [M19th] This goes back to Latin monoculus ‘one-eyed’ in contrast with binoculars (recorded from E18th, but only from 1871 in the normal modern sense) which are used with both eyes. The element mono ‘one’, which was borrowed by Latin from Greek, is found in many words including monochrome [M17th] combined with Greek chroma ‘colour’; monogamy [E17th] with gamos ‘marriage; monologue [M16th] with logos ‘word, speech’; and monopoly [M16th] from polein ‘sell’.