prodigal etymology

Etymology

The word "prodigal" is derived from the Latin word "prodīgus," which means "wasteful." This word is derived from the verb "prōdō," meaning "to exhaust" or "to waste."

Meaning

A prodigal is someone who spends or uses resources wastefully or extravagantly. The word is often used to describe someone who is reckless and irresponsible with money or other possessions.

Origin

The word "prodigal" first appeared in the English language in the early 14th century. It is believed to have been borrowed from the Latin word "prodīgus." The word was originally used to describe someone who was wasteful or extravagant in their spending. Over time, the word came to be used to describe someone who was also reckless and irresponsible.

Usage

The word "prodigal" is often used in a negative sense. It can be used to describe someone who is foolish or unwise with their money. The word can also be used to describe someone who is selfish or greedy.

In modern usage, the word "prodigal" is sometimes used in a more positive sense. It can be used to describe someone who is generous or extravagant. The word can also be used to describe someone who has returned to their family or community after a period of absence.

Examples

  • The prodigal son spent all of his inheritance on gambling and drinking.
  • The prodigal daughter returned home after years of living a reckless life.
  • The prodigal CEO wasted the company's money on lavish parties and bonuses.

Synonyms

  • wasteful
  • extravagant
  • reckless
  • irresponsible
  • foolish
  • unwise
  • selfish
  • greedy

Antonyms

  • thrifty
  • frugal
  • responsible
  • wise
  • generous
  • kind
  • caring

prodigal relate terms

  • prodigality

    Etymology From Middle English prodygalite from Old French prodigalité from Latin pro

  • prodigal

    Etymology The word prodigal is derived from the Latin word prodīgus which means wa

  • action

    Etymology Old French action from Latin actio from agere to act Meaning The pro

  • active

    Etymology Middle English activ from Latin activus from agere to do act Meani

  • actor

    Etymology The word actor is derived from the Latin actor nom actoris which mean

  • actual

    Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek words etymon meaning true meaning

  • actuary

    Etymology The term actuary originates from the Latin word actuarius which means sc

  • actuate

    Etymology Actuate is derived from the Latin word actuāre meaning to put in motion to

  • agile

    Etymology From Latin agilis meaning nimble quick active Related to the verb ag

  • agitation

    Etymology Origin Latin agitatio Meaning shaking stirring Meaning Agitation r

  • agony

    Etymology Greek ἀγωνία agōnia Meaning Contest struggle painful distr

  • ambagious

    Etymology The term ambagious is derived from the Latin word ambages which means a

  • ambassador

    Etymology Latin ambactus meaning servant retainer French ambassadeur from ambact

  • ambiguous

    Etymology Ambiguous etymology refers to words whose origin and history are uncertain or

  • anagogical

    Etymology The word anagogical is derived from the Greek words ana up agōgē

  • antagonize

    Etymology From Middle French antagonizer from Late Latin antagonista from Greek antag

  • apagoge

    Etymology Ancient Greek ἀπαγωγή apagoge from the verb ἀπάγω apago m

  • assay

    Etymology The word assay is derived from the Middle French word assaier meaning to

  • Auriga

    Etymology Auriga comes from the Latin word auriga which means charioteer Meaning

  • auto da fe

    Etymology The term auto da fe is derived from the Portuguese and Spanish phrase auto

  • axiom

    Etymology The word axiom is derived from the Greek word axíōma which means that

  • cache

    Etymology The word cache comes from the French word cacher which means to hide

  • castigate

    Etymology The word castigate originates from the Latin word castigare which means t

  • coagulate

    Etymology Latin coagulare to curdle clot Proto Indo European kwag to shake tr

  • cogent

    Etymology Cogent originates from the Latin word cogere meaning to drive together

  • cogitation

    Etymology Cogitation n derives from Latin cogitatio meaning a thinking thought r

  • counteract

    Etymology The word counteract is derived from the Latin prefix contra meaning again

  • demagogue

    Etymology Origin Greek Word demagogos δῆμος dēmos people ἄγω agō

  • embassy

    Etymology The word embassy comes from the French word ambassade which in turn deriv

  • epact

    Etymology Ancient Greek ἐπακταί epaktai meaning additional days Meaning

  • essay

    Etymology and Meaning of Essay The word essay originates from the Old French term es

  • exact

    Etymology Exact Old French exact Latin exactus past participle of exigere to driv

  • exacta

    Etymology Latin exactus past participle of exigere to demand drive out PIE root

  • examine

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It involves trac

  • exigency

    Etymology Latin exigere to drive out compel demand From ex out agere to drive

  • exiguous

    Etymology Latin exiguus meaning scanty small meager Meaning Very small li

  • fumigation

    Etymology Late Latin fumigātiō from fumus smoke āre ify Meaning The ac

  • glucagon

    Etymology Greek glykys sweet agon leader guide Meaning A hormone produc

  • hypnagogic

    Etymology Origin of the Word Hypnagogic is derived from the Greek words hypnos

  • interact

    Etymology The word interact is derived from the Latin verb interagere meaning to ac

  • intransigent

    Etymology Latin intransigens intransigentis In not opposite of trangere to go

  • isagoge

    Etymology The word isagoge is derived from the Greek word εισαγωγής eisagō

  • litigate

    Etymology Latin litigare to contend in court Indo European root leiǵh

  • litigation

    Etymology Litigate comes from the Latin litigare meaning to contend in court to

  • mitigate

    Etymology The word mitigate comes from the Latin word mitigare which means to make

  • mystagogue

    Etymology The word mystagogue derives from the Greek words mystes μύστης me

  • navigate

    Etymology The word navigate originates from the Latin word navigare which means to

  • objurgate

    Etymology Late Latin objūrgāre Latin ob against iūrgāre to quarrel scold

  • pedagogue

    Etymology Greek paidagōgós paid child agōgós leader Meaning A pe

  • plutogogue

    Etymology Greek ploutos wealth gogos leading Meaning A plutogogue is a p

  • prodigal

    Etymology The word prodigal is derived from the Latin word prodīgus which means wa

  • protagonist

    Etymology The word protagonist is derived from the Greek words protos meaning fir

  • purge

    Etymology The word purge comes from the Old French word purgier which in turn deriv

  • react

    Etymology The word react has its roots in the Latin prefix re meaning back or a

  • redact

    Etymology Late Latin redactus past participle of redigere to bring back restore re

  • retroactive

    Retroactive Etymology Retroactive etymology refers to the act of changing or reconstructi

  • squat

    Etymology The word squat comes from the Middle Dutch word squatten which means to s

  • strategy

    Etymology The word strategy comes from the Greek word strategia which means the a

  • synagogue

    Etymology Latin synagōga Greek συναγωγή sunagōgē Meaning A Jewish h

  • transact

    Etymology The word transact is derived from the Latin verb transagere which means

  • transaction

    Etymology The word transaction comes from the Latin word transactio which means a c

  • variegate

    Etymology Late Latin variegātus past participle of variegāre to variegate diversif

  • afford

    Etymology and Origin Origin Middle English c 1300 provide for Etymology From Old

  • approach

    Etymology Approach comes from the Middle English word approchen which in turn derive

  • appropriate

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meaning has chang

  • approve

    Etymology Middle English approven from Anglo Norman French aprover approvere from L

  • approximate

    approximate Etymology Late Middle English in the sense near in measure or amount

  • barbican

    Etymology From Middle English barbikane from Old French barbacane from Late Latin barb

  • before

    Prefix before Etymology Middle English from Old English beforan from be denoting po

  • deprive

    Etymology The word deprive comes from the Middle French word despriver meaning to d

  • expropriate

    Etymology Latin expropriare to take for one s own Components ex out of from

  • first

    Etymology the study of the origin and development of words and their meanings Meaning

  • fore

    Etymology Middle English fore from Old English fore in front of before in time or p

  • forefather

    Etymology The word forefather is derived from the following components Fore prefi

  • foremost

    Etymology Fore Old English fore meaning at the front before in advance Most S

  • former

    Etymology Middle English fermer from Old French fermer from Latin firmare to make f

  • forth

    Etymology The word forth is derived from the Old English word forth which is itself

  • frame

    Etymology Middle English frame from Old French frame fram from Frankish ram of unc

  • frau

    Etymology The word frau comes from the Middle High German MGH word vrouwe c 12th

  • fret

    Etymology From Middle English freten fretten freten from Old English fretian to de

  • Freya

    Etymology Freya is a goddess in Norse mythology Her name is derived from the Old Norse

  • froward

    Etymology Middle English frowerd from Old English fraweard Old English fraweard from

  • from

    Etymology refers to the study of the origin and history of words including their meaning

  • furnish

    Etymology The word furnish is derived from the Old French word furnir which means t

  • furniture

    Etymology The word furniture comes from the Old French word fourniture which means

  • further

    Etymology The word further derives from the Old English furthor which itself is deri

  • galore

    Etymology Old English galore in abundance Possibly from Middle Dutch te loere on

  • hysteron proteron

    Etymology Greek hysteron later proteron earlier Meaning Hysteron protero

  • impervious

    Etymology Late Latin imperspicuus French impervious Meaning Impermeable not

  • improbity

    Etymology The word impropriety stems from the im prefix which denotes not or opp

  • impromptu

    Etymology Impromptu Latin impromptu from in not promptus ready Meaning

  • improve

    Etymology Etymology pronounced ˌe tɪˈmɑːlə dʒi originates from two Greek roo

  • palfrey

    Etymology The word palfrey is derived from the Old French word palefroi which in tur

  • para

    Etymology The word para originates from the Greek preposition παρά pará which

  • paradise

    Etymology The word paradise comes from the Old Persian word pairidaēza which means

  • pardon

    Etymology The word pardon comes from the Old French word pardonner which itself come

  • paramount

    Etymology The word paramount comes from the Middle French word paramont which in tu

  • parvenu

    Etymology French parvenu past participle of parvenir to arrive reach Latin perv

  • pellucid

    Etymology and Meaning The word pellucid comes from the Latin word pellucidus which m

  • percent

    Etymology Origin Latin per centum meaning by the hundred Origin French pour c

  • percussion

    Etymology Latin percutere to strike through beat upon Proto Indo European per

  • perennial

    Etymology From Old French perennial from Latin perennis lasting through the year

  • perestroika

    Etymology Russian перестройка perestroika literally restructuring Mea

  • perfect

    Etymology Perfect comes from the Latin word perfectus which means completed finish

  • perfidy

    Etymology Middle English perfidie from Old French perfidie from Latin perfidia from

  • perform

  • perfume

    Etymology of Perfume The word perfume is derived from the Latin word per fumare me

  • perfunctory

    Etymology The word perfunctory originates from the Latin phrase per functus which m

  • perhaps

    Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It traces how words have evolve

  • perish

    Etymology Old French perir Latin perire from per meaning completely ire mean

  • perjury

    Etymology Perjury comes from the Latin word periurium which means false oath It is

  • permanent

    Etymology Latin permanens entis present participle of permanere to remain endure

  • permeate

    Etymology Late Middle English in the sense diffuse through from Latin permeatu

  • permit

    Etymology The word permit derives from the Latin verb permittere which means to all

  • pernicious

    Etymology Latin pernicies destruction from per completely and nex death

  • perpendicular

    Etymology and Meaning The word perpendicular comes from the Latin words per through

  • perpetual

    Meaning and Origin of Perpetual Etymology Perpetual etymology is a term coined by lin

  • perplex

    Etymology From Middle English perplexen perplexen from Old French perplexer from Lat

  • persecute

    Etymology From Middle French persécuter from Late Latin persecutī the gerund of per

  • persevere

    Etymology French persévérer Latin perseverare Prefix per through Verb severa

  • perspective

    Etymology Perspective comes from the Latin word perspicere which means to see throu

  • perspire

    Etymology From Latin perspirāre to breathe through from per spirare to breat

  • persuasion

    Etymology Latin persuadere to persuade convince induce Proto Indo European per

  • pertain

    Etymology Latin pertinēre to belong to to have a relation to to concern Proto In

  • peruse

    Peruse Etymology Late Middle English from medieval Latin perūsus past participle of

  • pervade

    Etymology Latin pervadere Middle English pervaden Old French pervader Meaning To s

  • pierce

    Etymology Middle English percen from Old French percier from Late Latin pertusiare

  • portray

    Etymology Late Latin portrahere from Latin prō forward trahere to draw

  • postprandial

    Etymology Latin post after prandium meal Meaning Relating to or occurri

  • prae

    Etymology Prae is a Latin preposition meaning before or in front of It is derived

  • Prakrit

    Etymology The word Prakrit is derived from the Sanskrit word prakṛti which means

  • premier

    Premier Etymology French from Old French premier from Latin primus first Meaning

  • presbyter

    Etymology The word presbyter is derived from the Greek word presbuteros which means

  • Presbyterian

    Etymology The term Presbyterian originates from the Greek word presbuteros meaning

  • preterite

    Etymology The word preterite derives from the Latin praeteritus meaning past or gon

  • pride

    Etymology The word pride comes from the Middle English word pryde which in turn der

  • priest

    Etymology The word priest derives from the Greek word presbyteros meaning elder or

  • primal

    Etymology Latin primus first Indo European pre before Meaning First in

  • primary

    Etymology Latin prīmārius from prīmus first Meaning First in importance ra

  • primate

    Etymology The word primate comes from the Latin word primas which means first M

  • primavera

    Etymology The word primavera has its roots in the Latin language Prima Meaning fir

  • prime

    Etymology The word prime comes from the Latin word primus which means first Mea

  • primeval

    Etymology The word primeval comes from the Middle French term primeval which is deri

  • primitive

    Etymology Latin primitivus Primus first ivus having the character of Mea

  • primo

    Etymology Latin primarius first chief primary From the Latin root primus firs

  • primogenitor

    Etymology Primitive Root Latin primus first Latin genitor parent Meaning

  • primogeniture

    Etymology French primogéniture Latin primogenitūra Primus first genitus bo

  • primordial

    Etymology Primordial is derived from the Latin word primordium which means beginni

  • primus

    Etymology The word primus is derived from the Latin word primum which means first

  • prince

    Etymology Old French prince Latin princeps first citizen Meaning A sovereig

  • principal

    Etymology From Middle French principal from Latin principalis from princeps prince

  • principle

    Etymology Old French principe Latin principium Proto Indo European _ prek to ta

  • prior

    Etymology Old English pryur Anglo French priour Latin prior Meaning In its

  • pristine

    Etymology Origin French pristine from Latin pristinus meaning former ancient Root

  • private

    Etymology The word private comes from the Latin word privatus which means distinct

  • privilege

    Etymology Latin privilegium Proto Indo European pr̥ḱ li s before the law Mea

  • probably

    Etymology The word etymology is derived from the Greek word etymos meaning true or

  • probe

    Etymology The word probe comes from the Latin word probare which means to test exa

  • probity

    Etymology From Late Latin probitas from Latin probus good excellent honest Ulti

  • problem

    Etymology Greek πρόβλημα problema obstacle question Latin problema di

  • proceed

    Etymology Latin prōcēdere to come forth advance Meaning To continue or pro

  • proclaim

    Etymology The word proclaim comes from the Middle English word proclamen which in tu

  • prodigal

    Etymology The word prodigal is derived from the Latin word prodīgus which means wa

  • produce

    Etymology Middle English produce from Anglo Norman produire from Latin producere to

  • profane

    Etymology The word profane derives from the Latin profanus meaning outside the tem

  • profess

    Etymology The word professor originates from the Latin word professus which means

  • profile

    Etymology The word profile comes from the Italian word profilo which in turn is der

  • profit

    Etymology The word profit comes from the Latin word profectus meaning progress or

  • profound

    Etymology The word profound comes from the Latin word profundus which means deep o

  • profuse

    Etymology Middle English profus from Latin profusus past participle of profundere

  • project

    Etymology The word project originates from the Latin word projicere which means to

  • promise

    Etymology The word promise comes from the Old French word promesse which in turn de

  • prompt

    Etymology From Middle English prompte from Old French proute alteration influenced by

  • prone

    Etymology The word prone comes from the Latin word pronus meaning bending forward

  • proof

    Etymology and Meaning The word proof derives from the Middle English word prove whic

  • proper

    Etymology The word etymology is derived from the Greek word etymon which means tru

  • property

    Etymology The word property originates from the Old French word propreté which in

  • propinquity

    Etymology of propinquity The word propinquity originates from the Latin word propin

  • prophet

    Etymology Ancient Greek προφήτης prophētēs Latin propheta Meaning A

  • prose

    Etymology The word prose originates from the Latin word prosa which itself derives

  • prosthesis

    Etymology The word prosthesis comes from the Greek word πρόσθεσις prothesis

  • protagonist

    Etymology The word protagonist is derived from the Greek words protos meaning fir

  • Protean

    Etymology The word protean comes from the Greek adjective proteus meaning changing

  • protect

    Etymology The word protect comes from the Latin word protegere meaning to cover or s

  • protein

    Etymology The word protein comes from the Greek word prōtos meaning first or pr

  • Proterozoic

    Etymology From Late Latin Proterozoicus from Greek Proteros earlier Zoikos lif

  • protest

    Etymology The word protest comes from the Late Latin word protestari meaning to bea

  • proto

    Etymology The word proto is derived from the Greek word prōtos which means first

  • protocol

    Etymology The word protocol comes from the Greek word protokollon which means the f

  • proton

    Etymology The word proton comes from the Greek word πρωτόν prōton meaning

  • protoplasm

    Etymology Proto Greek First original plasm Greek Formed molded Meaning P

  • Protozoa

    Etymology Protozoa is derived from two Greek words Protos πρώτος meaning

  • proud

    Etymology Old English prūd prūde Proto Germanic prūdiz Proto Indo European prew

  • prove

    Etymology Origin Greek Meaning true word Meaning Noun The study of the histor

  • proverb

    Etymology The word proverb originates from the Latin word proverbium which means a

  • provide

    Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek words etymon meaning true sense

  • provoke

    Etymology The word provoke derives from the Latin verb provocare meaning to call fo

  • prow

    Etymology Prow is derived from the Old English word prōwa which ultimately comes f

  • prowess

    Etymology From Old French proesce proëce prowess valor from Vulgar Latin prodec

  • proximate

    Etymology The word proximate comes from the Latin word proximus meaning nearest o

  • Purana

    Etymology The word Purana is derived from the Sanskrit roots purva पूर्व

  • purchase

    Etymology Origin Old French purchaz Latin perquadrere to acquire Meaning T

  • purdah

    Etymology English purdah Persian parda curtain veil Meaning A system of seclu

  • reciprocal

    Etymology The word reciprocal is derived from the Latin word reciprocus which means

  • rapprochement

    Etymology French rapprochement Ultimately derived from Latin re back prope

  • reproach

    Etymology Middle English reprouchen from Old French reprochier from Late Latin reproba

  • reprove

    Etymology The word reprove comes from the Old French word reprover which in turn com

  • veneer

    Etymology Veneer originates from the Middle French word veneir which means to cover

  • profligate

    Etymology The word profligate comes from the Latin word proflīgātus which means

  • extravagant

    Etymology The word extravagant comes from the Late Latin word extravagans which mea

  • profligate

    Etymology The word profligate comes from the Latin word proflīgātus which means

  • large

    Etymology The word large comes from the Old English word lǽrge which itself derive

  • consumer

    The word consumer comes from the Latin word consumere which means to consume This

  • soul

    Etymology The word soul traces its origins to the Proto Indo European root h₂enh₂

  • cosmos

    Etymology The word cosmos comes from the Greek word kosmos which means order or u

  • metaphysics

    Etymology The word metaphysics comes from the Greek words meta after and physikos