Tag: A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport

adjective

• amazing or wonderful : very impressive
• very big

Source:http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigious

I’ve come across this word in the reading excerpt “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport”. This word can be found in the sentence “He used to be a prodigious drinker and drug-taker, famous for late-night altercations, not always coherent public appearances and marathon hours at trendy spots like the Groucho Club”. In this case, prodigious means very big. When I read ” used to be a prodigious drinker and drug-taker”, I inferred that prodigious meant big but I was still unsure if it actually meant big.

 

noun

• bad or immoral behavior or habits

• a moral flaw or weakness

• a minor bad habit

Source:http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vice

I’ve come across this word in the reading excerpt “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport”. This word can be found in the sentence “Smoking is Mr.Self’s only remaining vice”. In this case, vice means a bad habit or behavior since smoking does harm to the body. At first I was confused with the phrasing of “only remaining vice”. As I continued reading the next sentence said “He used to be a prodigious drinker and drug-taker…”. I learned at that moment that Mr.Self in his present state only smokes and gave up his other vices.