pŭĕrīlis, e, adj. [puer].
I Lit., boyish , childish , youthful (class.): puerili specie, senili prudentiā, Cic. Div. 2, 23, 50: aetas, id. Arch. 3, 4; cf. tempus, Ov. M. 6, 719: disciplina, Cic. N. D. 1, 26, 72; id. Rep. 4, 3, 3: institutio, id. de Or. 2, 1, 1: doctrina, id. ib. 3, 31, 125; Quint. 1, 1, 9: delectatio, Cic. Fin. 1, 21, 72: regnum, Liv. 1, 3: blanditiae, Ov. M. 6, 626: manus, Cels. 3, 27, 3: ostrum, the praetexta , Stat. S. 5, 2, 66: agmen, a troop of boys , Verg. A. 5, 548.—In distinction from virgineus: (faciem) virgineam in puero, puerilem in virgine possis (dicere), boyish , Ov. M. 8, 323.—
B In partic., in mal. part.: officium, Plaut. Cist. 4, 1, 5: supplicium, Mart. 2, 60, 2; and absol. puerile, id. 9, 67, 3; cf.: puerile obtulit corollarium, Ap. Met. 3, 20, 13; Hyg. Fab. 189.—
II Transf., boyish , childish , puerile , trivial , silly (rare but class.): acta illa res est animo virili, consilio puerili, Cic. Att. 14, 21, 3: sententia, Ter. Phorm. 949: vota, Ov. Tr. 3, 8, 11: res (with insubidae, inertes), Gell. 18, 8, 1: isagogae, id. 1, 2, 6: puerile est, Ter. And. 449.— Comp. : si puerilius his ratio esse evincet amare, Hor. S. 2, 3, 250. —Hence, adv.: pŭĕrīlĭtĕr , like a child : ludentes, Phaedr. 3, 8, 5: blandiri, Liv. 21, 1.—
B Childishly , foolishly , sillily : stultus, Plaut. Pers. 4, 4, 42; Cic. Fin. 1, 6, 19: facere, id. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 11, 33; 2, 17, 54; Tac. H. 4, 86.