"exclusive control of a commodity or trade," 1530s, from Latin monopolium, from Greek monopolion "right of exclusive sale," from mono- + polein "to sell," from PIE root *pel- (5) "to sell" (cognates: Sanskrit panate "barters, purchases," Lithuanian pelnas "gain," Old Church Slavonic splenu, Russian polon "prey, booty," Old Norse falr, Dutch veil, German feil "for sale, venal").
Alternative form monopole (1540s, from the Old French form of the word) was common in 16c. The popular board game, invented by Charles Darrow, is from 1935. Monopoly money "unreal currency" is attested from 1972, in reference to the paper used in the game.
雙語例句
1. "Monopoly" is one of the best-selling games of all time.
“大富翁”是有史以來最暢銷的遊戲之一。
來自柯林斯例句
2. Had he succeeded, he would have acquired a monopoly.
要是他當時成功了，他就會取得壟斷地位。
來自柯林斯例句
3. In the past central government had a monopoly on television broadcasting.
過去，中央政府對電視節目播放實行壟斷。
來自《權威詞典》
4. Inflation was so high that the notes were like Monopoly money.
通貨膨脹嚴重，貨幣變得跟“大富翁”遊戲鈔票無異。
來自《權威詞典》
5. His monopoly of shipbuilding in that country has been established.