prodigialadj.
/prəˈdɪdʒɪəl/, /prəˈdɪdʒ(ə)l/, U.S. /prəˈdɪdʒ(i)əl/, /proʊˈdɪdʒ(i)əl/ rare.
Of or relating to prodigies or omens; (also) of the nature of an omen, portentous.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > an omen, sign, portent > [adjective]
prognosticate?a1425
prognostical?a1450
prognostaticc1475
portentousc1487
presagiousc1487
prodigiousc1487
prodigial1548
portending1560
augural1568
presaging1592
ominous1593
boding1594
portentive1594
prognostic1603
presageful1606
prognosticous1607
ostentful1608
prognosticant1619
predictious1631
portentful1633
ominal1651
ominating1663
bodeful1813
portentious1863
1548 Hall's Vnion: Richard III f. liij He..sore feared that it shoulde bee a pronosticacion or prodygall sygne of some infortunate plague afterward to succede.
1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 280 Events whereof, such as were skilfull in prodigial learning foretold and prophesied.
1956 E. Voegelin Order & Hist. 14 Such cosmological symbols as the voice of an intracosmic god of the fathers who speaks from a prodigial thornbush.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1548