pĕtŭlans, antis, adj. [prop. part. of the obsol. petulo, from peto, qs. falling upon or assailing in jest, i. e.], forward, pert, saucy, impudent, wanton, freakish, petulant.
I In gen. (class.; syn.: protervus, lascivus, procax): petulantes et petulci etiam appellantur, qui protervo impetu, et crebro petunt laedendi alterius gratiā, Fest. p. 206 Müll.: homo, Cic. de Or. 2, 75, 305: effuse petulans, id. Pis. 5, 10: animalia, Gell. 17, 20, 8: pictura, Plin. 35, 11, 40, § 140: petulans et furiosum genus dicendi, Cic. Brut. 68, 241: Tarentum, Juv. 6, 297.— Comp. , Arn. 4, 151.— Sup. : imitatio petulantissima, Petr. 92.—
II In partic., wanton , lascivious (class.): si petulans fuisset in aliquā generosā nobili virgine, Cic. Par. 3, 1, 20.— Adv.: pĕtŭlanter , pertly , wantonly , impudently , petulantly (class.): in aliquem invehi, Cic. Att. 2, 19, 3: vivere, id. Cael. 16, 38.— Comp. : petulantius, Cic. Cael. 3, 6. — Sup. : petulantissime, Cic. Att. 9, 19, 1.