prodigus Latin · revision 31924

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₂eǵ-e/o-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈproː.dɪ.ɡʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈprɔː.di.ɡus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prōdigus''' (feminine prōdiga, neuter prōdigum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prōdigō|-us|t1=to squander]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) and [[m|la|prōdigō]] is [[m|la|prō-]] and [[m|la|agō|t=to drive]], with the ⟨d⟩ of [[m|la|redigō]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|agō]] to [[itc-pro|*ag-e/o-|t=to do, act]] and [[ine-pro|*h₂eǵ-e/o-|t=to drive, lead]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|ἄγω|tr=ágō|t=to lead]], [[sa|अजति|tr=ájati|t=drives]] and [[non|aka|t=to drive]].^(de Vaan 2008) Porphyrio and Isidore explain the prodigal as one who scatters his goods as if driving them forward.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) where a man is told he must have been a spendthrift in his youth.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means wasteful or prodigal of money and goods;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero distinguishes the prodigal, who spends on feasts, public meals and gladiatorial shows, from the liberal.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also lavish of other things, as Horace's Faith that gives away secrets, and of gifts and spending extravagant, as Livy's prodigal largess.^(OLD 2012) In a good sense it is lavish or unstinting, as Ovid's earth bountifully supplying riches and food.^(OLD 2012) In a declamation it means unrestrained, of eyes that look at everyone.^(OLD 2012) Gaius uses it of a spendthrift in law,^(Köbler 2010) and Church Latin glosses it “prodigal, profuse, extravagant”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a spendthrift youth.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the prodigal and the liberal.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of a Faith prodigal of secrets.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid of the bountiful earth.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|wasteful|alt=Wasteful]], [[m|en|prodigal]], extravagant.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Lavish of other things; of gifts and spending, extravagant.^(OLD 2012)

+ # In a good sense, [[m|en|lavish]], bountiful.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Unrestrained, licentious.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prōdigitās]]

+ * [[prōdigālis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prodigo|alt=prōdigō]]

+ * [[ago|alt=agō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''prodigus'', the squanderer who disregards the value of money, from ''[[profusus]]'', the spendthrift who grudges nothing for his pleasures;^(Döderlein 1874) ''[[helluo|alt=helluō]]'' and ''[[nepos|alt=nepōs]]'' describe a whole character given to prodigality.^(Döderlein 1874) Lewis & Short give ''[[largus]]'' and ''[[munificus]]'' as near-synonyms.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}