3. A light kind of crossbow; -- in the sense, often spelled prodd.
Fairholt.
Prod, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prodded (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prodding.] To
thrust some pointed instrument into; to prick with something sharp; as,
to prod a soldier with a bayonet; to prod oxen; hence, to goad, to
incite, to worry; as, to prod a student. H. Taylor.
Prodd (?), n. A crossbow. See Prod, 3.
Prod"i*gal (?), a. [L. prodigus, from prodigere to drive forth, to
squander away; pro forward, forth + agere to drive; cf. F. prodigue.
See Agent. ] Given to extravagant expenditure; expending money or other
things without necessity; recklessly or viciously profuse; lavish;
wasteful; not frugal or economical; as, a prodigal man; the prodigal
son; prodigal giving; prodigal expenses.
In fighting fields [patriots] were prodigal of blood.
Dryden.
Syn. -- Profuse; lavish; extravagant; squandering; wasteful. See
Profuse.
Prod"i*gal, n. One who expends money extravagantly, viciously, or
without necessity; one that is profuse or lavish in any expenditure; a
waster; a spendthrift. "Noble prodigals of life." Trench.
Prod`i*gal"i*ty (?), n. [F. prodigalitÈ, L. prodigalitas. See
Prodigal.] Extravagance in expenditure, particularly of money;
excessive liberality; profusion; waste; -- opposed to frugality,
economy, and parsimony."The prodigality of his wit." Dryden.
Prod"i*gal*ize (?), v. i. To act as a prodigal; to spend liberally.
Sherwood.
Prod"i*gal*ize, v. t. To expend lavishly. Ld. Lytton.
Prod"i*gal*ly, adv. In a prodigal manner; with profusion of expense;
extravagantly; wasteful; profusely; lavishly; as, an estate prodigally
dissipated.
Nature not bounteous now, but lavish grows; Our paths with flowers
she prodigally strows.
Dryden.
Prod"i*gate (?), v. t. To squander. Thackeray.
Prod"i*gence (?), n. [L. prodigentia, fr. prodigens, p. pr. of
prodigere. See Prodigal. ] Waste; profusion; prodigality. [R.] Bp.
Hall.
Pro*di"gious (?), a. [L. prodigiosus, fr. prodigium a prodigy; cf. F.
prodigieux. See Prodigy.]
1. Of the nature of a prodigy; marvelous; wonderful; portentous. [Obs.
or R.] Spenser.
It is prodigious to have thunder in a clear sky.
Sir T. Browne.
2. Extraordinary in bulk, extent, quantity, or degree; very great;
vast; huge; immense; as, a prodigious mountain; a prodigious creature;
a prodigious blunder. "Prodigious might." Milton.
Syn. -- Huge; enormous; monstrous; portentous; marvelous; amazing;
astonishing; extraordinary.
Pro*di"gious*ly, adv.