Word: prodigal (adjective, noun)

Associations

The word "prodigal" usually means spending money or resources freely and wastefully. It can also refer to a person who does this. It often has a negative meaning, suggesting carelessness or extravagance.

• "The prodigal son returned home after many years." This is a famous example from a story where a son wastes his money but comes back to his family.
• "She was prodigal with her inheritance, spending it all on luxuries." Here, "prodigal" describes careless spending.
• "His prodigal lifestyle eventually led to financial trouble." This shows a way to describe someone's wasteful habits.

Synonym: "wasteful." The difference is that "prodigal" often implies a strong or noticeable level of wastefulness, sometimes with a sense of regret or a story behind it, while "wasteful" is more general.

Substitution

Instead of "prodigal," you can say:

• wasteful (focus on careless use)
• extravagant (focus on spending a lot)
• lavish (focus on very rich or fancy spending) Using these changes the meaning slightly. "Extravagant" can be positive or neutral, while "prodigal" usually has a negative feeling.

Deconstruction

"Prodigal" comes from Latin "prodigus," meaning "lavish" or "wasteful."

• "pro-" means "forth" or "forward."
• The root relates to giving or spending. The word has been used in English since the 1500s, often linked to the biblical story of the "prodigal son," which helps explain its meaning of someone who wastes resources but may return or change.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone you know was prodigal? What happened?
• How would you describe a prodigal person differently from someone who is just generous?
• Is it always bad to be prodigal, or can it sometimes be forgiven or understood? Why?