(adj.adv.) : pugnax, ācis, adj.pugno
* Fond of fighting, combative, warlike, martial.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.

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