Mon"arch (?), n. [F. monarque, L. monarcha, fr. Gr. , ; alone + to be first, rule, govern. See Archi-.]
1.
A sole or supreme ruler; a sovereign; the highest ruler; an emperor, king, queen, prince, or chief.
He who reigns
Monarch in heaven, ... upheld by old repute.
Milton.
2.
One superior to all others of the same kind; as, an oak is called the monarch of the forest.
3.
A patron deity or presiding genius.
Come, thou, monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus.
Shak.
4. Zool.
A very large red and black butterfly (Danais Plexippus); -- called also milkweed butterfly.
© Webster 1913.
Mon"arch, a.
Superior to others; preeminent; supreme; ruling.
"
Monarch savage."
Pope.
© Webster 1913.