Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.that holds fast, that clings firmly, very tenacious.

I. Lit. (only poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “digitus male pertinax,” Hor. C. 1, 9, 24: “ales unguibus pertinax,” App. Flor. p. 366: tenaxne pater ejus est? Ph. Pater immo edepol pertinax, exceedingly avaricious, Plaut. Capt. 2, 2, 39.—

B. Transf., that lasts long, very durable: “spiritus,” Plin. 10, 29, 43, § 81: “siligo in Allobrogum agro pertinax,” id. 18, 8, 20, § 85.—

II. Trop., firm, constant, steadfast, persevering, unyielding; in a bad sense, obstinate, pertinacious, stubborn (cf. pervicax); constr. absol., with in and abl.; also (rare and not ante-Aug.) with in and acc., adversus and acc., ad and acc.; also (post-Aug.) with gen., Att. ap. Non. 433, 6 sq.: “concertationes in disputando pertinaces,” Cic. Fin. 1, 8, 27 sq.: “pertinacissimus fueris, si, etc.,” id. ib. 2, 33, 107: “valde pertinax,” id. ib. 2, 3, 9: “pertinax fama,” Plin. 24, 17, 101, § 159: “studium, Quint. Inst. prooem.: certamen,” Liv. 2, 40: “stare pertinaci statu,” Gell. 2, 1, 2: “octoginta milia fortissimae pertinacissimaeque in retinendis armis juventutis,” Vell. 2, 27, 1: “pertinax virtus,” Liv. 25, 14: “pertinax adversus temerarios impetus,” id. 28, 22, 14: “pertinacior in repugnando,” id. 29, 33: “pertinax ad obtinendam injuriam,” id. 29, 1, 17: “in quod coepit pertinax et intenta,” Sen. Ira, 1, 1, 2.—

(β). Poet., with inf.: “fortuna ... Ludum insolentem ludere pertinax,” Hor. C. 3, 29, 51.—

(γ). With gen.: “justitiae,” App. Mag. p. 338, 34: “irae,” Val. Max. 6, 3, 3.—Hence, adv.: pertĭnācĭter .

A. Very fast or firmly, very tenaciously, persistently: “haec ipsa magis pertinaciter haerent, quo deteriora sunt,” Quint. 1, 1, 5; Suet. Tib. 74: “pertinacius resistere,” Plin. 16, 43, 83, § 227: “pertinacissime retinere,” id. 33, 6, 32, § 100. —

B. Constantly, firmly, steadily, perseveringly; obstinately, stubbornly, pertinaciously: “pertinaciter liberalibus studiis deditus,” Suet. Claud. 40 fin.: “pertinaciter in aliquā re manere,” Varr. R. R. 1, 20: pertinaciter offensus, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 23, 1: “contendere,” Suet. Caes. 1: “studere,” Sen. Ep. 5, 1.—Comp.: “pertinacius insequi,” Hirt. B. G. 8, 13.—Sup.: “pertinacissime pabulo abstinere,” Suet. Caes. 81 med.; id. Ner. 56.—

III. Pertĭnax , ācis, m., surname of the emperor P. Helvius, who succeeded Commodus on the throne, Capitol. Pert. 1; Aur. Vict. Epit. 18.