LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivethird-declension one-termination adjective

pertināx1

pertināx (genitive pertinācis, comparative pertinācior, superlative pertinācissimus, adverb pertināciter)
Classical[ˈpɛr.tɪ.naːks]Ecclesiastical[ˈpɛr.ti.naks]

Meaning

  1. one terminationpersevering, obstinate
  2. one terminationpertinacious
  3. one terminationtenacious
  4. one terminationsteadfast

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Pervicacia · Perseverantia · Pertinacia · Contumacia · Destinatio · Obstinatio

1. Pervicacia and perseverantia denote adherence to what is once resolved upon as a virtue; pervicacia (from vincere? vigere?) has its foundation in natural energy of disposition; perseverantia, in earnestness of character, formed by cultivation; whereas pertinacia and contumacia as a fault; pertinacia has its foundation in a stiff-necked adherence to what is once resolved upon, like obstinacy and stubbornness, in opp. to condescension; contumacia (from temere, contemnere) in a haughty maintenance of one’s free-will, even against proper and legitimate superiority,3 like insolence and refractoriness, in opp. to complaisance, obsequium. Tac. Ann. iv. 20. Hist. iv. 74. Accius apud Non. Tu pertinacem esse, Antiloche, hanc prædicas, ego pervicaciam esse aio et a me uti volo, etc. Cic. inv. ii. 54. Unicuique virtuti finitimum vitium reperietur, ut pertinacia, quæ finitima perseverantiæ est: comp. with Balb. 27. Marc. 10. 2. Pervicacia, etc. denote persisting in a resolution once made; destinatio and obstinatio are more immediately connected with the making of the resolution; destinatio, the making of an unalterable resolution, decidedness; obstinatio, adhering to it in spite of insurmountable obstacles and reasonable remonstrances, obstinacy. (iv. 176.)

3 [But, adhibere liberam contumaciam. Cic. Tus. 1, 29.]

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativepertināxpertināxpertināx
genitivepertinācispertinācispertinācis
dativepertinācīpertinācīpertinācī
accusativepertinācempertinācempertināx
ablativepertinācī
pertināce		pertinācī
pertināce		pertinācī
pertināce
vocativepertināxpertināxpertināx
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativepertinācēspertinācēspertinācia
genitivepertināciumpertināciumpertinācium
dativepertinācibuspertinācibuspertinācibus
accusativepertinācīs
pertinācēs		pertinācīs
pertinācēs		pertinācia
ablativepertinācibuspertinācibuspertinācibus
vocativepertinācēspertinācēspertinācia

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

pertinacem (opp. clementem) esse in disputando
to be dogmatic; positive.

per-tĭnax, ācis, adj. tenax,
I. that holds fast, that clings firmly, very tenacious.
I. Lit. (only poet. and in post-Aug. prose): digitus male pertinax, Hor. C. 1, 9, 24: ales unguibus pertinax, App. Flor. p. 366: tenaxne pater ejus est? Ph. Pater immo edepol pertinax, exceedingly avaricious, Plaut. Capt. 2, 2, 39.—
B. Transf., that lasts long, very durable: spiritus, Plin. 10, 29, 43, § 81: siligo in Allobrogum agro pertinax, id. 18, 8, 20, § 85.—
II. Trop., firm, constant, steadfast, persevering, unyielding; in a bad sense, obstinate, pertinacious, stubborn (cf. pervicax); constr. absol., with in and abl.; also (rare and not ante-Aug.) with in and acc., adversus and acc., ad and acc.; also (post-Aug.) with gen., Att. ap. Non. 433, 6 sq.: concertationes in disputando pertinaces, Cic. Fin. 1, 8, 27 sq.: pertinacissimus fueris, si, etc., id. ib. 2, 33, 107: valde pertinax, id. ib. 2, 3, 9: pertinax fama, Plin. 24, 17, 101, § 159: studium, Quint. Inst. prooem.: certamen, Liv. 2, 40: stare pertinaci statu, Gell. 2, 1, 2: octoginta milia fortissimae pertinacissimaeque in retinendis armis juventutis, Vell. 2, 27, 1: pertinax virtus, Liv. 25, 14: pertinax adversus temerarios impetus, id. 28, 22, 14: pertinacior in repugnando, id. 29, 33: pertinax ad obtinendam injuriam, id. 29, 1, 17: in quod coepit pertinax et intenta, Sen. Ira, 1, 1, 2.—
(b). Poet., with inf.: fortuna ... Ludum insolentem ludere pertinax, Hor. C. 3, 29, 51.—
(g). With gen.: justitiae, App. Mag. p. 338, 34: irae, Val. Max. 6, 3, 3.—Hence, adv.: pertĭnācĭter.
A. Very fast or firmly, very tenaciously, persistently: haec ipsa magis pertinaciter haerent, quo deteriora sunt, Quint. 1, 1, 5; Suet. Tib. 74: pertinacius resistere, Plin. 16, 43, 83, § 227: pertinacissime retinere, id. 33, 6, 32, § 100. —
B. Constantly, firmly, steadily, perseveringly; obstinately, stubbornly, pertinaciously: pertinaciter liberalibus studiis deditus, Suet. Claud. 40 fin.: pertinaciter in aliquā re manere, Varr. R. R. 1, 20: pertinaciter offensus, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 23, 1: contendere, Suet. Caes. 1: studere, Sen. Ep. 5, 1.—Comp.: pertinacius insequi, Hirt. B. G. 8, 13.—Sup.: pertinacissime pabulo abstinere, Suet. Caes. 81 med.; id. Ner. 56.—
III. Pertĭnax, ācis, m., surname of the emperor P. Helvius, who succeeded Commodus on the throne, Capitol. Pert. 1; Aur. Vict. Epit. 18.

Origins

From pertineō + -āx.

Descendants
  • Catalanpertinaç
  • Italianpertinace
  • Spanishpertinaz
  • Middle Englishpertinacefrom Old French pertinace

In English words that came into English from pertināx

  • pertinaciouspertināx
  • pertinaciouslypertināx
proper noun · masculinethird declension
Pertināx2
Pertināx m sg (genitive Pertinācis)
Classical[ˈpɛr.tɪ.naks]Ecclesiastical[ˈpɛr.ti.naks]

Meaning

  1. A Roman cognomen — famously held by
  2. Pertinax, a Roman emperor

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativePertināx—
genitivePertinācis
Petinācis		—
dativePertinācī—
accusativePertinācem—
ablativePertināce—
vocativePertināx—

Origins

From pertināx (“obstinate”).

Quick answers

What does pertināx mean in Latin?
pertināx, a adjective, means “persevering, obstinate; pertinacious; tenacious”.
How do you pronounce pertināx?
In classical Latin, [ˈpɛr.tɪ.naːks]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈpɛr.ti.naks].