prodigious

Definitions

From Latin prōdigium, 'an omen, a marvel' (prōd- 'forth' + a form related to dīcere/āio, to say). A prodigium was something that 'spoke forth' a sign from the gods — a portent. What is portentous is awe-inspiring, hence prodigious = astonishingly great. Same family as prodigy.

Why It Means This

A distant cousin in the dic family. The Latin prōdigium meant a marvel or omen — literally something 'said forth' as a divine sign. Marvels are by nature huge and astonishing, so the word's meaning narrowed from 'a wonder' to 'extraordinarily great in size or degree.' Today it modifies talent, memory, appetite — anything strikingly enormous.

Common Collocations

• 1.prodigious talent非凡的才能
• 2.prodigious amount惊人的数量
• 3.prodigious memory超强的记忆力
• 4.prodigious feat惊人的壮举

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The young pianist showed a prodigious talent at the age of six.

• 2.

  Writing three novels in a year took a prodigious amount of effort.

• 3.

  He had a prodigious memory and could recite whole books.