I. Lit., sauciness, freakishness, impudence, wantonness, petulance (class.; syn. lascivia): itaque a petendo petulantia, a procando, id est poscendo, procacitas nominata est, Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 23, 18: “petulantia et libido magis est adulescentium quam senum,” id. Sen. 11, 36: “petulantia et audacia,” id. Caecin. 35, 103; cf.: “te non ulla meae laesit petulantia linguae,” Prop. 1, 16, 37.—In plur.: “Naevius ... cum ob assiduam maledicentiam et probra in principes civitatis ... in vincula conjectus esset ... in his fabulis, delicta sua et petulantias dictorum, quibus multos ante laeserat, diluisset,” insolent language, libels, Gell. 3, 3, 15.—
B. In a milder sense, carelessness, heedlessness (ante-class.): “linguae,” Suet. Tib. 61; Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 3.—
II. Transf.
A. Of animals, viciousness: “cornuti fere perniciosi sunt propter petulantiam,” Col. 7, 6, 4.—
B. Of things, exuberance, luxuriance: “ramorum,” Plin. 16, 30, 53, § 124: “morbi,” violence, Gell. 12, 5, 9.
