[often with modifier]a person, especially a young one, endowed with exceptional qualities or abilities (尤指年幼的)奇才,天才,神童 a Russian pianist who was a child prodigy in his day. 一位曾是神童的俄国钢琴家。 ■an impressive or outstanding example of a particular quality 奇迹;奇物,奇观 Germany seemed a prodigy of industrial discipline. 德国似乎是工业纪律的奇迹。 ■an amazing or unusual thing, especially one out of the ordinary course of nature 奇事;异兆 omens and prodigies abound in Livy's work. 利维的作品充满异兆与奇事。
语源
late 15th cent. (denoting something extraordinary considered to be an omen): from Latin prodigium 'portent'