adj. 1. Rashly or wastefully extravagant: prodigal expenditures on unneeded weaponry; a prodigal nephew who squandered his inheritance. 2. Giving or given in abundance; lavish or profuse: "the infinite number of organic beings with which the sea of the tropics, so prodigal of life, teems" (Charles Darwin). See Synonyms at profuse. n. One who is given to wasteful luxury or extravagance. [Late Middle English, probably back-formation from Middle English prodigalite, from Old French, from Late Latin prōdigālitās, from Latin prōdigus, prodigal, from prōdigere, to drive away, squander : prōd-, prō-, for, forth; see PROUD + agere, to drive; see ag- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] prod′i·gali·ty (-gălĭ-tē) n. prodi·gal·ly adv. |
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