LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective

prōdigus

prōdigus (feminine prōdiga, neuter prōdigum)
Classical[ˈproː.dɪ.ɡʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈprɔː.di.ɡus]

Meaning

  1. adjectivewasteful, lavish, prodigal

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Prodigus · Profusus · Helluo · Nepos

Prodigus and profusus denote prodigality, as a single feature in a man’s character; prodigus (from δέχω?) inasmuch as he regards not the value of money, and neither can nor will carefully put it out to interest, from a genial disposition, as the squanderer; profusus, inasmuch as he thinks nothing too dear, that can minister to his pleasures, from levity of character, as the spendthrift; whereas helluo and nepos denote prodigality as pervading the whole character, which shows itself fully in the quality of prodigality; helluo (from χλιδή) the habitual gourmand and glutton; nepos (ἀναπότης) a young and harebrained prodigal, who runs through his own property and that of his parents. (vi. 286.)

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativeprōdigusprōdigaprōdigum
genitiveprōdigīprōdigaeprōdigī
dativeprōdigōprōdigaeprōdigō
accusativeprōdigumprōdigamprōdigum
ablativeprōdigōprōdigāprōdigō
vocativeprōdigeprōdigaprōdigum
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativeprōdigīprōdigaeprōdiga
genitiveprōdigōrumprōdigārumprōdigōrum
dativeprōdigīsprōdigīsprōdigīs
accusativeprōdigōsprōdigāsprōdiga
ablativeprōdigīsprōdigīsprōdigīs
vocativeprōdigīprōdigaeprōdiga

prōdĭgus, a, um, adj. prodigo,
I. wasteful, lavish, prodigal.
I. Lit. (class.; syn.: largus, munificus): omnino duo sunt genera largorum, quorum alteri prodigi, alteri liberales. Prodigi, qui epulis et viscerationibus et gladiatorum muneribus, ludorum venationumque apparatu, pecunias profundunt in eas res, quarum memoriam aut levem aut nullam omnino sint relicturi, Cic. Off. 2, 16, 55: femina, Juv. 6, 362.—With gen.: peculii sui prodigus, Plaut. Most. 4, 1, 19: aeris, Hor. A. P. 164; Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 500.— As subst.: prōdĭgus, i, m., a wasteful person, a spendthrift, prodigal: largitor et prodigus, Cic. Cat. 4, 5, 10: lege XII. tabularum prodigo interdicitur bonorum suorum administratio, Dig. 27, 10, 1 prooem.; Ulp. Reg. 12, 3; Gai. Inst. 1, 53 fin.: prodigus ad bonos mores reversus, Paul. Sent. 3, 4, a, 12.—
B. Transf.
1. Causing great expense, costly, expensive (post-Aug.): margaritae, prodiga res, Plin. 37, 2, 6, § 15.—
2. Rich, abounding in any thing (poet.); with gen.: locus prodigus herbae, Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 42.—Absol.: tellus, rich, fertile, Ov. M. 15, 81.—
3. Abundant, great, strong (post-Aug.): odor, Plin. 13, 3, 5, § 25: alvus, great, stout, Aus. Idyll. 10, 104.—
II. Trop., lavish, prodigal, profuse; with gen.: prodigus suae alienaeque et fortunae et pudicitiae, Vell. 2, 48, 3: arcanique Fides prodiga, Hor. C. 1, 18, 16: judicii sui, Gell. 11, 5, 4: animaeque magnae Prodigum Paulum, careless of life, Hor. C. 1, 12, 38; cf.: prodiga gens animae, Sil. 1, 225.—With in and acc.: libidines in cibos atque in Venerem prodigae, Gell. 19, 2, 3: sed finem impensae non servat prodiga Roma, Juv. 7, 138: prodiga corruptoris Improbitas, id. 10, 304: prodigis oculis intueri, with greedy eyes, with voluptuous glances, Auct. Quint. Decl. 292.—Hence, adv.: prōdĭgē, lavishly, extravagantly, prodigally (class.): prodige vivere, Cic. Phil. 11, 6, 13: uti aliquā re, Sen. Ep. 88, 30.

Origins

From prōdigō + -us.

Descendants
  • Catalanpròdig
  • Frenchprodigue
  • Italianprodigo
  • Portuguesepródigo
  • Romanianprodig
  • Spanishpródigo
  • Galicianpródigo

Quick answers

What does prōdigus mean in Latin?
prōdigus, a adjective, means “wasteful, lavish, prodigal”.
How do you pronounce prōdigus?
In classical Latin, [ˈproː.dɪ.ɡʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈprɔː.di.ɡus].