prodigy

[prod-i-jee]

See more synonyms for prodigy on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural prod·i·gies.

a person, especially a child or young person, having extraordinary talent or ability: a musical prodigy.
a marvelous example (usually followed by of).
something wonderful or marvelous; a wonder.

something abnormal or monstrous.
Archaic. something extraordinary regarded as of prophetic significance.

Origin of prodigy

1425–75; late Middle English prodige < Latin prōdigium prophetic sign

Can be confusedprodigy protégé

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for prodigy

genius, whiz, sensation, wizard, wunderkind, talent, phenomenon, portent, enormity, miracle, rarity, stunner, brain, monster, curiosity, spectacle, natural, freak, wonder, mastermind

Examples from the Web for prodigy

Contemporary Examples of prodigy

Internet prodigy and Reddit founder Aaron Swartz committed suicide on Friday.
The Swartz Family’s Statement and More Reactions to the Death of Aaron Swartz
January 13, 2013
The twit, Guy Clinch, is the unlucky father of Marmaduke, an 18-month-old prodigy of domestic mayhem.
Remedial Reader: The Essential Martin Amis
Ronald K. Fried
August 24, 2012
Prodigy likewise is relatively common in mathematics and the sciences.
When Your Hero’s an SOB
Bruce Duffy
August 1, 2011

Historical Examples of prodigy

Was it possible that she herself was there, in the expectation of bringing about a prodigy?
The Dream
Emile Zola
Although implored and hoped for, the prodigy did not appear, and the room was silent and anxious.
The Dream
Emile Zola
Was the wonderful event about to take place, the prodigy she awaited?
The Dream
Emile Zola
By a prodigy Guillaume was alive and already on his legs again.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
He prefers to frolic and philosophise with his prodigy on the sands.
The Book of Khalid
Ameen Rihani

British Dictionary definitions for prodigy

prodigy

noun plural -gies

a person, esp a child, of unusual or marvellous talents
anything that is a cause of wonder and amazement
something monstrous or abnormal
an archaic word for omen

Word Origin for prodigy

C16: from Latin prōdigium an unnatural happening, from pro- 1 + -igium, probably from āio I say

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for prodigy

late 15c., "sign, portent, something extraordinary from which omens are drawn," from Latin prodigium "prophetic sign, omen, portent, prodigy," from pro- "forth" (see pro-) + -igium, a suffix or word of unknown origin, perhaps from *agi-, root of aio "I say" (see adage). Meaning "child with exceptional abilities" first recorded 1650s.