prŏtervus, a, um, adj. [protero; qs. trampling on every thing; hence], violent, vehement.
I Lit. (poet.): venti, Hor. C. 1, 26, 2: Africus, id. Epod. 16, 22: Eurus, Ov. H. 11, 14: stella canis, scorching , oppressive , id. Am. 2, 16, 4.—
II Trop., forward , bold , pert , wanton , shameless , impudent (class.; generally milder than procax and petulans; v. protervitas): petulans protervo animo sum, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 3, 1: homo, Cic. Fin. 5, 12, 35; 1, 18, 61: dictum aut factum, id. ib. 2, 14, 47: vidua, id. Cael. 16, 38: Satyri, turba proterva, Ov. H. 5, 136: juvenes, Hor. C. 1, 25, 2: rixae, id. ib. 3, 14, 26: frons, id. ib. 2, 5, 15: oculi, Ov. H. 17, 77: manus, id. M. 5, 671: Musa, id. R. Am. 362: lingua, id. Ib. 522: sal protervum, ribald wit , Mart. 10, 9, 2.— Comp. : meretrix protervior, Just. 30, 2, 2.—Hence, adv., in two forms, proterve and proterviter.
A prŏtervē .
1 In a bad sense, boldly , wantonly , shamelessly , impudently (class.): aedes arietare, Plaut. Truc. 2, 2, 1: proterve iracundus, Ter. Hec. 503 (immoderate, superbe, Don.): consectans aliquem proterve, Cic. Rep. 1, 44, 68.— Comp. , Ov. A. A. 1, 599.— Sup. , Aug. Civ. Dei, 5, 22.—
2 In a good sense, boldly , with spirit : confidenter pro se et proterve loqui, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 207.—
B prŏtervĭter , boldly , wantonly , shamelessly , impudently , Enn. ap. Non. 513, 11 (Com. v. 8 Vahl.).