prodigy
noun
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Is a prodigy a genius or a monster - or both? Nowadays, it's the talent that shines through, but back in the 15th century the word's meaning was more strongly influenced by that of its Latin ancestor, prodigium, meaning "omen" or "monster." Back then, a prodigy could be any strange or weird thing that might be an omen of things to come. Even in modern English, the word sometimes refers to an extraordinary deed or accomplishment. P.G. Wodehouse used that sense when he described how a character named Pongo Twistleton was "performing prodigies with the [billiard] cue."
Examples of prodigy in a Sentence
Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2025
In the days that followed claims of Thiago Messi’s exploits, the Ronaldo fan account went further, claiming their own prodigy had scored 12 goals in a 12-11 win against Al Hilal, notching up another three million views.
—Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
In 2017, China watched in awe — and shock — as AlphaGo, an artificial intelligence program backed by Google, defeated a Chinese prodigy at a complex board game, Go.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2025
The prodigy has continued to thrive in the jazz world, since winning four more Grammys, with the most recent being in 2022 for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
—Marcus Jones, EW.com, 2 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Prodigy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigy. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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prodigy
noun
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