petulans Latin · revision 32084

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *pt-(e)i-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈpɛ.tʊ.ɫãːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈpɛː.tu.lans]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''petulāns''' (genitive petulantis, comparative petulantior, superlative petulantissimus, adverb petulanter); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the participle of a lost verb [[m|la|*petulō|alt=*petulāre]], from [[m|la|petō|t=to aim at, attack]]; the TLL takes that verb from an adjective [[m|la|petulus]], perhaps preserved in glosses, and compares [[m|la|petulcus|t=butting]].^(TLL)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan traces [[m|la|petō]] to [[itc-pro|*pet-e/o-]] and [[ine-pro|*pt-(e)i-|t=to fly]], the sense passing from flying to flying at something and trying to get it.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sga|én|t=bird]], [[hit|pattaii-|t=to run, fly, flee]] and [[grc|πέτομαι|tr=pétomai|t=to fly]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who in the ''Bacchides'' joins it with ''protervus'' and ''iracundus'' of a reckless temper.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means impudently or boisterously aggressive, self-assertive, forward or insolent, and of behaviour and language unruly, as Cicero speaks of a fiery, insolent and frenzied manner of speaking.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short explain it as assailing in jest, and so pert, saucy or wanton.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of sexual behaviour it means wanton or immodest, as in Varro's boy who corrupts the whole flock of boys.^(OLD 2012) In Church Latin it is glossed wanton, lustful, freakish, capricious.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ Döderlein sets it among words for offences against modesty: the ''petulans'' sins through wantonness, raillery and needless attack, the ''[[protervus]]'' through impetuosity, and the ''[[lascivus]]'' through unrestrained playfulness.^(Döderlein 1874) English borrowed ''petulant'' through French in the 1590s, at first in the sense immodest or saucy.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a reckless temper.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of a wanton boy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of an insolent style of speaking.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1590s – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|petulant]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Impudently or boisterously aggressive, forward, [[m|en|insolent]], unruly.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of behaviour or language, [[m|en|pert]], saucy, insolent.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of sexual behaviour, [[m|en|wanton]], immodest.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Freakish, [[m|en|capricious]].^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[petulantia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[peto|alt=petō]]

+ * [[petulcus]]

+ * [[protervus]]

+ * [[en|petulant]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}