prodigy — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An extraordinary occurrence or creature; an anomaly, especially a monster; a freak.

2. An amazing or marvellous thing; a wonder.

   Examples

   He is never chased; he would run away with rope-walks of line. Prodigies are told of him.

3. A wonderful example of something.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Traffic at Dover Marine has developed far beyond anything envisaged when the station was built. The layout has become rather cramped, and prodigies of organisation are performed annually by all concerned to save complete saturation.

4. An extremely talented person, especially a child.

5. An extraordinary thing seen as an omen; a portent.

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   These on the farther bank now stood and gazed, / By Heaven alarm’d, by prodigies amazed: / A signal omen stopp’d the passing host, / Their martial fury in their wonder lost.

   Prodigies and Portents have infected the beſt VVritings of Antiquity; and have ſo blotted and deformed our modern Annals, that (vvith greater Juſtice than Polybius has obſerv'd it, of the former) they may be rather called Tragedies than History.

   John Foxe believed that special prodigies had heralded the Reformation.

Noun

1. an unusually gifted or intelligent (young) person; someone whose talents excite wonder and admiration

   Broader terms

   geniusmastermindbrainbrainiacEinsteinwonder

   Examples

   she is a chess prodigy

2. a sign of something about to happen

   Synonyms

   omenportentpresageprognosticprognostication

   Broader terms

   augurysignforetokenpreindication

   Examples

   he looked for an omen before going into battle

3. an impressive or wonderful example of a particular quality

   Broader terms

   exemplarexamplemodelgood example

   Examples

   the Marines are expected to perform prodigies of valor