prōdĭgus, a, um, adj. [prodigo], wasteful, lavish, prodigal.
I Lit. (class.; syn.: largus, munificus): omnino duo sunt genera largorum, quorum alteri prodigi, alteri liberales. Prodigi, qui epulis et viscerationibus et gladiatorum muneribus, ludorum venationumque apparatu, pecunias profundunt in eas res, quarum memoriam aut levem aut nullam omnino sint relicturi, Cic. Off. 2, 16, 55: femina, Juv. 6, 362.—With gen.: peculii sui prodigus, Plaut. Most. 4, 1, 19: aeris, Hor. A. P. 164; Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 500.— As subst.: prōdĭgus , i, m., a wasteful person , a spendthrift , prodigal : largitor et prodigus, Cic. Cat. 4, 5, 10: lege XII. tabularum prodigo interdicitur bonorum suorum administratio, Dig. 27, 10, 1 prooem.; Ulp. Reg. 12, 3; Gai. Inst. 1, 53 fin. : prodigus ad bonos mores reversus, Paul. Sent. 3, 4, a, 12.—
B Transf.
1 Causing great expense , costly , expensive (post-Aug.): margaritae, prodiga res, Plin. 37, 2, 6, § 15.—
2 Rich , abounding in any thing (poet.); with gen.: locus prodigus herbae, Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 42.— Absol. : tellus, rich , fertile , Ov. M. 15, 81.—
3 Abundant , great , strong (post-Aug.): odor, Plin. 13, 3, 5, § 25: alvus, great , stout , Aus. Idyll. 10, 104.—
II Trop., lavish , prodigal , profuse; with gen.: prodigus suae alienaeque et fortunae et pudicitiae, Vell. 2, 48, 3: arcanique Fides prodiga, Hor. C. 1, 18, 16: judicii sui, Gell. 11, 5, 4: animaeque magnae Prodigum Paulum, careless of life , Hor. C. 1, 12, 38; cf.: prodiga gens animae, Sil. 1, 225.—With in and acc.: libidines in cibos atque in Venerem prodigae, Gell. 19, 2, 3: sed finem impensae non servat prodiga Roma, Juv. 7, 138: prodiga corruptoris Improbitas, id. 10, 304: prodigis oculis intueri, with greedy eyes , with voluptuous glances , Auct. Quint. Decl. 292.—Hence, adv.: prōdĭgē , lavishly , extravagantly , prodigally (class.): prodige vivere, Cic. Phil. 11, 6, 13: uti aliquā re, Sen. Ep. 88, 30.