prodigal

Word family

prod·i·gal1 /ˈprɒdɪɡəl $ ˈprɑː-/ adjectiveadj [usually before noun] formal

1. prodigal son/daughter formal someone who leaves their family and home without the approval of their family, but who is sorry later and returns 回头的浪子/悔悟回家的女儿

Examples from the Corpus

prodigal son/daughter• He is a classic modern tough guy as well as being an Old Testament prodigal son.• The play, very moral in tone throughout, is a reworking of the theme of the return of the prodigal son.• When the music stopped, Gary concentrated on the parable of the prodigal son.• The parable of the prodigal son conveys at a conscious level a message about the need for forgiveness and acceptance.• The prodigal son had returned to Parkhead.• A prodigal daughter, I had learned in only one day, I was not.• A final provocative statement from a life-long prankster, a prodigal son of Harvard, it seems so fitting.• The prodigal son will feast with harlots no more.

2 WASTE somethingspending money, wasting time etc in a careless way 浪费的，挥霍的；奢侈的 SYN extravagant

a prodigal lifestyle

奢侈的生活方式

Examples from the Corpus

prodigal• A prodigal daughter, I had learned in only one day, I was not.• They came back on a parade float of prodigal love and public money, promising entertainment, nostalgia and success.• This is the distinctive method of instruction at Oxford, and it is extremely prodigal of time.• There was the prodigal scene at the door.• The prodigal son had returned to Parkhead.• He is a classic modern tough guy as well as being an Old Testament prodigal son.• The play, very moral in tone throughout, is a reworking of the theme of the return of the prodigal son.

prodigal2 noun [countableC] literary

WASTE somethingsomeone who spends money carelessly and wastes their time – used humorously 浪费〔时间与金钱〕者，挥霍者〔幽默用法〕

Examples from the Corpus

prodigal• But once connected, it was a different story one was taken in and cosseted like the biblical prodigal.

Origin prodigal1

(1500-1600) Latin prodigus, from prodigere “to drive away, use wastefully”

prod·i·gal1 adjectiveadjprodigal2 noun

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus