I.fond of fighting, combative, warlike, martial.
I. Lit.: “centuriones pugnaces,” Cic. Phil. 8, 9, 26: “acer et pugnax,” id. Rep. 5, 8, 10 (from Non. 337, 31): “Minerva,” Ov. Tr. 3, 9, 7: “Achivi,” Hor. C. 3, 3, 27: “filius Thetidis,” id. ib. 4, 6, 8: “gens,” Tac. Agr. 17: “hastas,” Prop. 3, 7 (4, 8), 25: “pugnacissimus quique,” Tac. H. 4, 60: “gentes pugnacissimae,” Curt. 3, 9, 3: hac legione noli pugnacius quidquam putare, Asin. Pol. ap. Cic. Fam, 10, 31, 5: “aries,” Col. 7, 3, 6; cf.: “galli gallinacei pugnacissimi duo,” Petr. 86: “ensis,” Ov. Tr. 5, 7, 48.— Poet., with inf.: “tenui pugnax instare veruto,” Sil. 3, 363.—
B. Trop., of a speech or of the speaker, combative, quarrelsome, contentious: “oratio pugnacior (opp. pacatior),” Cic. Brut. 31, 121: “oratio pugnax et contentiosa,” Plin. Ep. 2, 19, 5: “exordium dicendi vehemens et pugnax, non saepe esse debeat,” Cic. de Or. 2, 78, 317.—
II. Transf., in gen., obstinate, refractory, pertinacious: “Graecus nimis pugnax esse noluit,” Cic. Pis. 28, 70: non est pugnax in vitiis, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 13, 1.—Of things, concrete and abstract; with dat.: “ignis aquae pugnax,” Ov. M. 1, 432; Plin. 15, 3, 4, § 13: “musta,” harsh, id. 14, 20, 25, § 125: “quid ferri duritiā pugnacius?” id. 36, 16, 25, § 127.—Hence, adv.: pugnācĭter , contentiously, violently, obstinately: “certare cum aliis pugnaciter,” Cic. Ac. 2, 20, 65: “dicere,” Quint. 9, 4, 126: “ferire,” Sen. Q. N. 1, 2, 11.—Comp.: “alia pugnacius dicenda,” Quint. 9, 4, 130.— Sup.: “pugnacissime defendere sententiam,” Cic. Ac. 2, 3, 9.
