Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A child prodigy.
  • noun A person of remarkable talent or ability who achieves great success or acclaim at an early age.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A child prodigy; a phenom.
  • noun A highly talented or gifted individual; one who is successful at a young age.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[German : Wunder, wonder, prodigy (from Middle High German, from Old High German wuntar) + Kind, child; see kindergarten.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From German Wunderkind, from Wunder ("wonder") + Kind ("child").

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Examples

Comments

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  • At least I have an excuse for this one. I first heard of it in Alanis Morissette's song by the same name on the Narnia soundtrack, and she pronounces the "kind" part like...well, "kind". Maybe a couple months ago I heard Ryan say the same word on The Office, only he pronounced the "kind" part the same way you do in, say, "kindergarten". So I had to look it up. Turns out Ryan was right.

    So I'm really wondering why Alanis Morissette said it funny.

    January 28, 2008

  • She's just unkind.

    January 28, 2008