What English adjective means "lavish" or "wastefully extravagant" and is derived from a compound of prō and agō?

The English adjective that conveys the meaning of "lavish" or "wastefully extravagant" is indeed derived from a compound of the Latin words prō (meaning "forth" or "for") and agō (meaning "to lead" or "to drive"). This adjective is "prodigal."

In its etymological background, "prodigal" relates not only to wastefulness but also to carelessness in expenditure, often associated with spending resources freely or lavishly without concern for future consequences. This term is best known from the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son, which illustrates a character who squanders his inheritance in a reckless manner.

The other terms do not carry the same specific connotation. While "generous" refers to being willing to give more than what is usual or necessary, and "excessive" describes something that is more than is necessary, neither encapsulates the idea of wasteful extravagance as precisely. "Laudable," on the other hand, means worthy of praise, which is unrelated to the concept of extravagance. Thus, in the context of the question, "prodigal" stands out as the correct choice due to its specific definition tied to lavishness and