prodigy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an unusually gifted or intelligent (young) person; someone whose talents excite wonder and admiration
    • she is a chess prodigy
  2. noun a sign of something about to happen
    omen; prognostic; prognostication; presage; portent.
    • he looked for an omen before going into battle
  3. noun an impressive or wonderful example of a particular quality
    • the Marines are expected to perform prodigies of valor

WordNet

Prod"i*gy noun
Etymology
L. prodigium; pro before + (perh.) a word appearing in adagium adage: cf. F. prodige. Cf. Adage.
Wordforms
plural Prodigies
Definitions
  1. Something extraordinary, or out of the usual course of nature, from which omens are drawn; a portent; as, eclipses and meteors were anciently deemed prodigies.
    So many terrors, voices, prodigies, May warn thee, as a sure foregoing sign. Milton.
  2. Anything so extraordinary as to excite wonder or astonishment; a marvel; as, a prodigy of learning.
  3. A production out of ordinary course of nature; an abnormal development; a monster. B. Jonson. Syn. -- Wonder; miracle; portent; marvel; monster.

Webster 1913