(adjective) : pĕtŭlans, antis, prop. part. of the obsol. petulo, from peto, qs. falling upon or assailing in jest, i. e.
* Forward, pert, saucy, impudent, wanton, freakish, petulant.
* In gen. (class.; syn.: protervus, lascivus, procax): petulantes et petulci etiam appellantur, qui protervo impetu, et crebro petunt laedendi alterius gratiā,Fest. p. 206 Müll.: homo,Cic. de Or. 2, 75, 305: effuse petulans,id. Pis. 5, 10: animalia,Gell. 17, 20, 8: pictura,Plin. 35, 11, 40, § 140: petulans et furiosum genus dicendi,Cic. Brut. 68, 241: Tarentum,Juv. 6, 297.—Comp., Arn. 4, 151.—Sup.: imitatio petulantissima,Petr. 92.
* In partic., wanton, lascivious (class.): si petulans fuisset in aliquā generosā nobili virgine,Cic. Par. 3, 1, 20.— Adv.: pĕtŭlanter, pertly, wantonly, impudently, petulantly (class.): in aliquem invehi,Cic. Att. 2, 19, 3: vivere,id. Cael. 16, 38.—Comp.: petulantius,Cic. Cael. 3, 6. —Sup.: petulantissime,Cic. Att. 9, 19, 1.

s. TLL