Prodigal — Prod i*gal, a. [L. prodigus, from prodigere to drive forth, to squander away; pro forward, forth + agere to drive; cf. F. prodigue. See {Agent}. ] Given to extravagant expenditure; expending money or other things without necessity; recklessly or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
prodigal — ► ADJECTIVE 1) wastefully extravagant. 2) lavish. ► NOUN 1) a prodigal person. 2) (also prodigal son) a person who leaves home to lead a prodigal life but returns repentant. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the parable in the Gospel of Luke, chapter… … English terms dictionary
prodigal — [adj1] wasteful dissipated, excessive, extravagant, immoderate, improvident, intemperate, lavish, profligate, reckless, spendthrift, squandering, wanton; concepts 401,560 Ant. careful, thrifty prodigal [adj2] luxurious, profuse abundant,… … New thesaurus
prodigal — [präd′i gəl] adj. [MFr < L prodigus, prodigal < prodigere, to drive forth or away, waste < pro , forth + agere, to drive: see PRO 2 & ACT1] 1. exceedingly or recklessly wasteful 2. extremely generous; lavish [prodigal with one s praise] … English World dictionary
prodigal# — prodigal adj *profuse, lavish, exuberant, luxuriant, lush Analogous words: extravagant, exorbitant, immoderate, *excessive: abundant, *plentiful, plenteous, ample, copious: *supererogatory, uncalled for, gratuitous Antonyms: parsimonious: frugal… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Prodigal — Prod i*gal, n. One who expends money extravagantly, viciously, or without necessity; one that is profuse or lavish in any expenditure; a waster; a spendthrift. Noble prodigals of life. Trench. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
prodigal — I adjective careless, dissipated, dissipative, excessive, extravagant, heedless, immoderate, improvident, imprudent, intemperate, lavish, liberal, profligate, reckless, spendthrift, squandering, thriftless, unbridled, uncurbed, uneconomical,… … Law dictionary
prodigal — mid 15c., back formation from prodigiality (mid 14c.), from O.Fr. prodigalite (13c.), from L.L. prodigalitatem (nom. prodigalitas) wastefulness, from L. prodigus wasteful, from prodigere drive away, waste, from pro forth (see PRO (Cf. pro )) +… … Etymology dictionary
prodigal — I UK [ˈprɒdɪɡ(ə)l] / US [ˈprɑdɪɡ(ə)l] adjective formal wasting a lot of money or supplies Derived word: prodigality UK [ˌprɒdɪˈɡælətɪ] / US [ˌprɑdɪˈɡælətɪ] noun uncountable II = prodigal son prodigal UK [ˈprɒdɪɡ(ə)l] / US [ˈprɑdɪɡ(ə)l] or… … English dictionary
prodigal — [[t]prɒ̱dɪg(ə)l[/t]] prodigals 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n You can describe someone as a prodigal son or daughter if they leave their family or friends, often after a period of behaving badly, and then return at a later time as a better person. [LITERARY] … English dictionary
