Literary notes about Prodigy (AI summary)
The term “prodigy” in literature is employed in a range of nuanced ways, often connoting both extraordinary talent and remarkable, sometimes ominous, occurrences. It appears to celebrate exceptional beauty and ability, as in the portrayal of a young woman noted for her beauty [1, 2] or of a precocious individual whose capabilities exceed ordinary bounds [3, 4]. At the same time, it is used to describe phenomena of a supernatural or alarming nature, whether as an unusual event in a royal setting [5, 6] or as a portent of deeper forces at work [7, 8]. Moreover, the word finds its place in modern contexts, even as part of brand names that evoke a sense of technological marvel [9, 10, 11, 12]. Thus, literary authors employ “prodigy” both to herald exceptional human or natural phenomena and to underscore events that challenge conventional expectations [13, 14, 15, 16].
- He also introduced me to a girl of sixteen, a veritable prodigy of beauty, who served at the bar of a tavern at which we took a bottle of strong beer.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova - She had likewise a great wish to know Venice, and as no one visited the family she had never been told that she was truly a prodigy of beauty.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova - He is generally thought a fine young man, but do not expect a prodigy.
— from Emma by Jane Austen - I hope you will be pleased with my son; but you must not expect a prodigy.
— from Emma by Jane Austen - 39 At that time, a prodigy occurred in the palace, wonderful both in its appearance and in its result.
— from The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 by Livy - Certain it is, it continued a solemn observance, that whenever the same prodigy was announced, a festival for nine days was observed.
— from The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 by Livy - Τέρας, ᾰτος, τό, a prodigy, portent, Ac. 2.19; a signal act, wonder, miracle, Jno. 4.48.
— from A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament by William Greenfield - This also appeared to the vulgar to be a very happy prodigy, as if God did thereby open them the gate of happiness.
— from The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem by Flavius Josephus - Others (like Prodigy in the U.S.) force clients to use communication software that makes it impossible to store incoming data to disk.
— from The Online World by Odd De Presno - Email (through Internet): postmaster@inetgate.prodigy.com .
— from The Online World by Odd De Presno - Minitel (in France and the U.S.), Alex (Canada), and Prodigy (U.S.A.) are also in this group.
— from The Online World by Odd De Presno - Prodigy ———- is a North American videotex service owned by IBM and Sears.
— from The Online World by Odd De Presno - “And I,” said Bromley Chitterlings proudly, “am known everywhere as the Pirate Prodigy—the Boy Avenger of the Patagonian coast.”
— from The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Tales by Bret Harte - Verily, a prodigy is this power of praising and blaming.
— from Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche - The rise of a city, which swelled into an empire, may deserve, as a singular prodigy, the reflection of a philosophic mind.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - The slight girlish form of Mushymush with outstretched hands stood between the exasperated Pirate Prodigy and the Boy Chief.
— from The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Tales by Bret Harte