Prodigal
PROD'IGAL, adjective [Latin produgus, from prodigo, to drive forth, to lavish.]
1. Given to extravagant expenditures; expending money or other things without necessity; profuse, lavish; wasteful; not frugal or economical; as a prodigal man; the prodigal son. A man may be prodigal of his strength, of his health, of his life or blood, as well as of his money.
2. Profuse, lavish; expended to excess or without necessity; as prodigal expenses.
3. Very liberal; profuse. Nature is prodigal of her bounties.
PROD'IGAL, noun One that expends money extravagantly or without necessity; one that is profuse or lavish; a waster; a spendthrift.
See Extravagance; Frugality; Industry
Extravagance; Frugality; Industry
PRODIGAL'ITY, noun
1. Extravagance in the expenditure of what one possesses, particularly of money; profusion; waste; excessive liberality. It is opposed to frugality, economy, and parsimony.
By the Roman law a man of notorious prodigality was treated as non compos.
The most severe censor cannot but be pleased with the prodigality of his wit.
2. Profuse liberality.
PROD'IGALIZE, verb intransitive To be extravagant in expenditures. [Not used.]
PROD'IGALLY, adverb With profusion of expenses; extravagantly; lavishly; wastefully; as an estate prodigally dissipated.
1. With liberal abundance; profusely.
Nature not bounteous now, but lavish grows,
Out paths with flow'rs she prodigally strows.