prodigy Copy link Outline I. In strict sense, something out of the course of nature serving as a sign or omen1. prōdĭgium2. portentum (less freq. than preced., and oftener in sense of monster)3. ostentum (gen. term; any supernatural intimation4. monstrum (poet. in this sense)5. mīrācŭlum (a marvel)II. Fig. • prodigy: I. In strict sense, something out of the course of nature serving as a sign or omen: 1. prōdĭgium: Cic. Verr. 4, 49, init.: many p.s took place that winter, multa ea hieme p. facta, Liv. 21, 62, init.: Virg. 2. portentum (less freq. than preced., and oftener in sense of monster): p.s in men and brutes, hominum pecudumque p., Cic. N. D. 2, 5, 14: Sall. (portenta atque prodigia, Cat. 30). 3. ostentum (gen. term; any supernatural intimation: infreq.): Suet. Caes. 32: cf. Cic. N. D. 2, 3, init. 4. monstrum (poet. in this sense): Virg. Aen. 2, 171. 5. mīrācŭlum (a marvel): cf. Liv. 2, 7, init. II. Fig.: a person or thing wonderful in any way: expr. by mīrācŭlum: to be looked upon as a p., miraculo esse, Plin. 7, 1, 1: a boar that was a p. of size, aper, magnitudinis miraculum (?), cf. Liv. 25, 9, ad fin. The use of prodigium in this sense is late and rare: cf. Flor. 1, 10, illa Romana prodigia atque miracula (those p.s of heroism, i. e. Horatius, Mutius, etc.). Phr.: he died after performing p.s of valour, *fortissime pugnans mortuus est; *quum ingentem hostium caedem edidisset occisus est: a p. of genius, *ingenio praeditus supra quam natura hominum pati videatur.