petulant
pronunciation
How to pronounce petulant in British English:
UK [ ˈpetjulənt]
How to pronounce petulant in American English:
US [ ˈpetʃələnt]
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- Adjective:
- easily irritated or annoyed
Word Origin
- petulant
- petulant: see repeat
- 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.
Example
- 1. Meanwhile , on the other side of the most petulant political slapfight in years , democrats complained that it was john mccain who they blamed for interrupting a consensus last week .