petulant
[pech-uh-luh nt]
- moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance: a petulant toss of the head.
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Origin of petulant
1590–1600; < Latin petulant- (stem of petulāns) impudent, akin to petere to seek, head for
Synonyms
See more synonyms for petulant on Thesaurus.comirritable, peevish, fretful, pettish, touchy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for petulantly
Historical Examples
It was the woman's voice behind them, petulantly exclaiming.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
"No; nor will she miss now," cries The Vengeance, petulantly.
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens
"I think the whole affair has been a mistake, anyway," one of them said petulantly.
The Film of FearArnold Fredericks
"Well, I never kin tell t'other from which," replied Maria, petulantly.
Si Klegg, Book 5 (of 6)John McElroy
"I've been ringing this bell for hours," it said petulantly.
Such Blooming TalkL. Major Reynolds
petulant
- irritable, impatient, or sullen in a peevish or capricious way
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Word Origin
C16: via Old French from Latin petulāns bold, from petulāre (unattested) to attack playfully, from petere to assail
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for petulantly
petulant
adj.
1590s, "immodest, wanton, saucy," from Middle French petulant (mid-14c.), from Latin petulantem (nominative petulans) "wanton, froward, saucy, insolent," present participle of petere "to attack, assail; strive after; ask for, beg, beseech" (see petition (n.)). Meaning "peevish, irritable" first recorded 1775, probably by influence of pet (n.2). Related: Petulantly.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper