Prodigally

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Characterized by a tendency to spend resources recklessly or lavishly, often leading to wastefulness and a lack of concern for future needs or consequences
2. In a manner showing excessive or reckless spending or use of resources without regard for consequences
3. Done with great abundance and carelessness in using money or materials, often beyond what is necessary

Etymology: "Prodigally" is simply the adverb of "prodigal," and the more interesting story lies one step back. "Prodigal" comes from Latin "prodigus," meaning wasteful or lavish, built from "prodigere," to drive forth or squander. The adjective carried that sense of spending freely with no thought for the cost, and the adverb follows the same path. The suffix does the grammatical work here. The "-ly" ending descends from Old English "-līce," a form of the Germanic adjective ending "-līk," which meant "having the appearance or form of," and in Middle English it became "-ly." Attaching it to "prodigal" turned a description of a person into a description of how an action was done, so that spending could be carried out prodigally.

Synonyms: extravagantly, lavishly, wastefully

Antonyms: frugally, economically, thriftily