Mensualis

Mensualis is a Latin adjective meaning "monthly" or "of the month." It is formed from mensis, the word for month, with the adjectival suffix -alis. In classical and medieval Latin, mensualis was used to describe things that recur on a monthly basis or pertain to the month of the calendar. The sense can extend to astronomical, ecclesiastical, or fiscal contexts where a period or event is defined by the month rather than by a specific day.

In modern scholarship, menstrualis is encountered primarily in Latin phrases within historical texts or in scientific writing that preserves Latin nomenclature. It is not commonly used as a stand-alone English term today. In biological and other taxonomic contexts, mensualis may appear as a species epithet, signaling a relationship to monthly timing, collection dates, or a habit tied to a monthly cycle; the precise meaning depends on the author’s intent.

Because mensualis is Latin, its usage in English-language writing typically appears within quotations, discussions of Latin grammar, or analyses of historical sources rather than as everyday vocabulary. Related terms include mensis (month) and other Latin adjectives formed with the suffix -alis.

References: Oxford Latin Dictionary; Lewis and Short Latin Dictionary.