I.firmness, inflexibility; in a bad sense, stubbornness, obstinacy (syn.: “pertinacia, perseverantia): avaritia, ambitio, mulierositas, pervicacia,” Cic. Tusc. 4, 11, 26: “haec pervicacia tua et superbia coëgit me loqui,” Liv. 9, 34, 24: Aegyptia, Treb. Poll. Claud. 11, 1.—
II. Transf., in a milder signif., firmness, steadiness, steadfastness: tu pertinaciam esse, hanc praedicas, ego pervicaciam aio, Att. ap. Non. 432, 32 sq. (Trag. Rel. v. 4 Rib.; “v. the entire passage under pervicax): quantā pervicaciā in hostem, tantā beneficentiā adversus supplices utendum,” Tac. A. 12, 20.— “Of things: castanea pedamentis omnibus praefertur perdurandi pervicaciā,” Plin. 17, 20, 34, § 147.