petulance

From Middle French pétulance, and its source, Latin petulantia.

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɛtjʊləns/, /ˈpɛt͡ʃələns/

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petulance (countable and uncountable, plural petulances)

1. (obsolete) Rudeness, insolence. [16th–19th c.]
   • 1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, “(please specify |book=I to XVI)”, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the Theater, published 1707, →OCLC:

     [W]ise men knew, that that, which looked like pride in some, and like petulance in others, would, by experience in affairs, and conversation amongst men, both of which most of them wanted, be in time wrought off […].

2. (obsolete) An insolent remark or act. [17th–19th c.]
   • 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter LXIX”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson;  […], →OCLC:

     I believe I was guilty of a petulance, which nothing but my uneasy situation can excuse; if that can.

3. Childish impatience or sulkiness; testiness. [from 18th c.]
   • 1857, Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers. […], copyright edition, volume II, Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, published 1859, →OCLC, page 29:

     She had not done this, but had shown herself angry and sore, and was now ashamed of her own petulance, and yet unable to discontinue it.

• (childish impatience or sulkiness) moodiness, caprice, capriciousness, tetchiness, arbitrariness, viciousness