prodigieux

Forms

prodigieux (feminine prodigieuse, masculine plural prodigieux, feminine plural prodigieuses)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin prōdigiōsus (“of the nature of a prodigy”),^[2][3][4][5] from prōdigium (“prophetic sign, prodigy”).^[2][5] In French it can be analysed as prodige with the suffix -eux.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded about 1380 in Jean Le Fèvre's La Vieille,^[2][3] with the sense of what partakes of the prodigy, supernatural.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The full sense, “miraculous, supernatural”, has stayed literary.^[3] In 1567, in Ronsard, the word took the weakened sense “monstrous, far greater than expected”, at first a familiar use, and this is now the common one.^[3][6] Ambroise Paré in the 16th century defined a prodigieuse creature as one wholly against nature.^[7] Classical French also used it in the active sense “that works wonders” (1625, Racan) and in the sense “monstrous, abominable”.^[6][3]

The adverb prodigieusement appears in 1543 and the noun prodigiosité in 1835, in Gautier.^[3] English prodigious (1550s) comes from the French word and directly from Latin.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 1380 – First record, in Jean Le Fèvre's La Vieille.^[2]
• 1543 – Prodigieusement is recorded.^[3]
• 1550s – English borrows prodigious.^[8]
• 1567 – Ronsard uses it in the weakened sense “extraordinary”.^[6][3]
• 1625 – Racan uses it of what works wonders.^[6][3]
• 1835 – Gautier forms prodigiosité.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (rare) Having the character of a prodige; supernatural, miraculous.^[9][2]
2. Extraordinary, astonishing; enormous in size or quantity: une foule prodigieuse.^[9][7]
3. Of a person: of extraordinary talent or genius: une pianiste prodigieuse.^[9][7]
4. (classical) That works wonders.^[6]
5. (classical) Monstrous, abominable.^[6]

Noun

1. Le prodigieux: what is extraordinary.^[9]

Word family

• prodigieusement

Related words

• prodige
• Latin prōdigium
• English prodigious

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
6. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert