LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

prōdigium

prōdigium n (genitive prōdigiī or prōdigī)
Classical[proːˈdɪ.ɡi.ũː]Ecclesiastical[proˈdiː.d͡ʒi.um]

Meaning

  1. omen, portent, prophetic sign
  2. prodigy, wonder

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Auguria · Auspicia · Prodigia · Ostenta · Portenta · Monstra · Omina

Auguria and auspicia are appearances in the ordinary course of nature, which for the most part possess a meaning for those only who are skilful in the interpretation of signs; auguria (from augur, αὐγάζειν) for the members of the college of augurs, who are skilled in such things; auspicia, for the magistrates, who have the right to take auspices: whereas prodigia, ostenta, portenta, monstra, are appearances out of the ordinary course of nature, which strike the common people, and only receive a more exact interpretation from the soothsayer: lastly, omina (ὄθματα, ὄσσαι) are signs which any person, to whom they occur, can interpret for himself, without assistance. The primary notion in prodigium is, that the appearance is replete with meaning, and pregnant with consequences; in ostentum, that it excites wonder, and is great in its nature: in portentum, that it excites terror, and threatens danger; in monstrum, that it is unnatural and ugly. (v. 178.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeprōdigiumprōdigia
genitiveprōdigiī
prōdigī		prōdigiōrum
dativeprōdigiōprōdigiīs
accusativeprōdigiumprōdigia
ablativeprōdigiōprōdigiīs
vocativeprōdigiumprōdigia

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

prodigia procurare (Liv. 22. 1)
to avert by expiatory sacrifices the effect of ominous portents.

prōdĭgĭum, ii (
I. gen. plur. prodigiūm, Pac. ap. Cic. Or. 46, 155), n. for prodicium, from prodico.
I. Lit., a prophetic sign, token, omen, portent, prodigy, in a good and (more freq.) in a bad sense (syn.: portentum, ostentum, monstrum): mittere, Att. ap. Cic. N. D. 3, 26, 68: multa prodigia vim ejus numenque declarant, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 49, § 107: (lunam deficientem) nullum esse prodigium, id. Rep. 1, 15; Verg. A. 5, 639: laetum, Plin. 11, 37, 77, § 197: P. Clodius fatale portentum prodigiumque rei publicae, Cic. Pis. 4, 9: (Catilina) monstrum atque prodigium, id. Cat. 2, 1, 1: non mihi jam furtum, sed monstrum ac prodigium videbatur, i. e. a monstrous and unnatural crime, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 73, § 171; cf. Juv. 6, 84: piare prodigia, Tac. H. 5, 13: accipere aliquid in prodigium, id. A. 12, 43: prodigii loco habere, id. ib. 13, 58: Harpyia Prodigium canit, Verg. A. 3, 366: nuntiare, Sall. C. 30, 2: divinitus factum, Quint. 1, 10, 47: prodigiorum perita, Liv. 1, 34: prodigio par est cum nobilitate senectus, Juv. 4, 97: propter multa prodigia libros Sibyllinos adiisse, Macr. S. 1, 6, 13.—Of miracles: signa et prodigia, Vulg. Psa. 134, 9 et saep. —
II. Transf., a monster, prodigy: non ego sum prodigium, Ov. M. 13, 917: prodigium triplex, id. H. 9, 91: heu prodigia ventris! Plin. 19, 4, 19, § 55.

Origins

From prō- (prefix denoting a forward direction, something before or prior, or prominence) + aiō (“to say, speak”) + -ium (suffix forming abstract nouns); compare and contrast with adā̆giō, later adā̆gium, more likely of different formation. Also see unrelated prodigal.

Descendants
  • Catalanprodigi
  • Frenchprodige
  • Italianprodigio
  • Portugueseprodígio
  • Romanianprodigiu
  • Spanishprodigio

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesProdigiumProdigium in its original meaning differs little from ostentum, monstrum, portentum. Quia enim ostendunt, portendunt, monstrant, praedicunt, ostenta, …

Quick answers

What does prōdigium mean in Latin?
prōdigium, a noun, means “omen, portent, prophetic sign; prodigy, wonder”.
What is the genitive of prōdigium?
The genitive singular is prōdigiī. prōdigium is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce prōdigium?
In classical Latin, [proːˈdɪ.ɡi.ũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [proˈdiː.d͡ʒi.um].