late 13c., "a sepulchre," from Old French monument "grave, tomb, monument," and directly from Latin monumentum "a monument, memorial structure, statue; votive offering; tomb; memorial record," literally "something that reminds," from monere "to remind, warn" (see monitor (n.)). Sense of "structure or edifice to commemorate a notable person, action, or event" first attested c. 1600.
