Prodigies

I was reckless, dangerous, stopped at nothing in fight or frolic; and the trading captains used to bring boiler-sheeted prodigies from the vilest holes of the South Pacific to try and drink me under the table. ❋ Unknown (2010)

"Supernatural machinery," appropriate to superstitious, unenlightened ages, finds itself unsuited to a rational period of "universal incredulity": "belief in prodigies and supernatural events has gradually declined in proportion to the advancement of human knowledge" (1881, 272). ❋ Unknown (2005)

Their surprise was great when they saw how many evils the First Consul had already repaired in so short a time, and all the improvements that he still intended to carry out; and they spread through their own country the report of what they themselves called the prodigies of the First Consul, by which thousands of their compatriots were influenced to come and judge with their own eyes. ❋ Various (N/A)

So is Mr. Syed's argument that so-called prodigies are made, not born. ❋ Unknown (2010)

“I trusted Mr. Wengrow not to waste my time, but hesometimes exaggerates to make the parents of his students feel good about their so-called prodigies.” ❋ V.C. Andrews (2001)

The rector of Pudford and his three Oxford experts performed prodigies with the bat, prodigies, that is to say, judged from the standpoint of ordinary Pudford scoring, where double figures were the exception rather than the rule. ❋ Unknown (1928)

And he seemed able to call prodigies of endurance out of those who helped him; with that example it seemed easier to endure. ❋ Unknown (1919)

Foundries and workshops began, though slowly, to supply tools and machines; the earth was rifled of her treasures, natron was wrought, saltpetre works were established, and gunpowder was thereby procured for the army with an energy which recalled the prodigies of activity of 1793. ❋ John Holland Rose (1898)

The Jesuits, who arose as a counteracting force to Luther and the Reformation, supplanted the Franciscans as missionaries among the heathen, and performed what can only be called prodigies of self-sacrifice and intrepidity. ❋ Julian Hawthorne (1890)

Taped last week at CBC headquarters, the annual spell-fest finale features young word prodigies from 21 Canadian cities matching their skills in trying to spell words like "perspicacious" and "antidisestablishmentarianism." ❋ Unknown (2011)

Hundreds, who are now living, were eye-witnesses of what I may almost call the prodigies of strength and personal labour performed by myself, and some of my father's servants, and ❋ Henry Hunt (1804)

But belief in the supernatural was common then and methods of investigating these kind of prodigies were not known or possible then. ❋ James F. McGrath (2010)

The "prodigies" in the book world are those which are in the culture - deeply entrenched the culture of this minute. ❋ A. Fortis (2007)

Secondly, Terata, "prodigies" or "wonders," works beyond the power of nature or energy of natural causes, wrought to fill men with wonder and admiration, manifesting to theion, and surprising men with a sense of the presence of God. ❋ 1616-1683 (1967)

Chronicle, several 'prodigies' preceded the death of this profligate and extravagant monarch. ❋ Unknown (1896)

Uncommon occurrences may be called, if they appear in the forms of men and animals, "prodigies," and if they are seen in the physical world, ❋ Crawford Howell Toy (1877)