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Webster's New World College Dictionary » prodigal
prodigal 
prodigal definition
prodi·gal (präd′i gəl)
adjective
- exceedingly or recklessly wasteful
- extremely generous; lavish prodigal with one's praise
- extremely abundant; profuse
Etymology: MFr < L prodigus, prodigal < prodigere, to drive forth or away, waste < pro-, forth + agere, to drive: see pro- & act
noun
a person who wastes his means; spendthrift
Related Forms:
- prodigality prod′i·gal′·ity (-gal′ə tē) noun pl. prodigalities -·ties
- prodigally prod′i·gally adverb
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