LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective

protervus

protervus (feminine proterva, neuter protervum, comparative protervior)
Classical[prɔˈtɛr.wʊs]Ecclesiastical[proˈtɛr.vus]

Meaning

  1. adjectiveviolent, vehement
  2. adjectivereckless, wanton, shameless, impudent
  3. adjectiveaudacious

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Petulans · Procax · Protervus · Lascivus

The petulans (σπαταλῶν) sins against modestia through wantonness, raillery, and needless attack; the procax, through importunity and boisterous forwardness; the protervus (from proterere? or ταράξαι?) from impetuosity and haughty recklessness; the lascivus, through unrestrained frolicksomeness and inclination for play. Hence petulantia has its foundation in aversion to rest and quietness, or in the love of mischief; procacitas, in assurance or complete impudence; protervitas, in a feeling of strength, or in insolence; lascivia, in high spirits, or the want of seriousness. (iii. 40.)

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativeprotervusprotervaprotervum
genitiveprotervīprotervaeprotervī
dativeprotervōprotervaeprotervō
accusativeprotervumprotervamprotervum
ablativeprotervōprotervāprotervō
vocativeproterveprotervaprotervum
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativeprotervīprotervaeproterva
genitiveprotervōrumprotervārumprotervōrum
dativeprotervīsprotervīsprotervīs
accusativeprotervōsprotervāsproterva
ablativeprotervīsprotervīsprotervīs
vocativeprotervīprotervaeproterva

prŏtervus, a, um, adj. protero; qs. trampling on every thing; hence,
I. violent, vehement.
I. Lit. (poet.): venti, Hor. C. 1, 26, 2: Africus, id. Epod. 16, 22: Eurus, Ov. H. 11, 14: stella canis, scorching, oppressive, id. Am. 2, 16, 4.—
II. Trop., forward, bold, pert, wanton, shameless, impudent (class.; generally milder than procax and petulans; v. protervitas): petulans protervo animo sum, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 3, 1: homo, Cic. Fin. 5, 12, 35; 1, 18, 61: dictum aut factum, id. ib. 2, 14, 47: vidua, id. Cael. 16, 38: Satyri, turba proterva, Ov. H. 5, 136: juvenes, Hor. C. 1, 25, 2: rixae, id. ib. 3, 14, 26: frons, id. ib. 2, 5, 15: oculi, Ov. H. 17, 77: manus, id. M. 5, 671: Musa, id. R. Am. 362: lingua, id. Ib. 520: sal protervum, ribald wit, Mart. 10, 9, 2.—Comp.: meretrix protervior, Just. 30, 2, 2.—Hence, adv., in two forms, proterve and proterviter.
A. prŏtervē.
1. In a bad sense, boldly, wantonly, shamelessly, impudently (class.): aedes arietare, Plaut. Truc. 2, 2, 1: proterve iracundus, Ter. Hec. 3, 5, 53 (immoderate, superbe, Don.): consectans aliquem proterve, Cic. Rep. 1, 44, 68.—Comp., Ov. A. A. 1, 599.—Sup., Aug. Civ. Dei, 5, 22.—
2. In a good sense, boldly, with spirit: confidenter pro se et proterve loqui, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 207.—
B. prŏtervĭter, boldly, wantonly, shamelessly, impudently, Enn. ap. Non. 513, 11 (Com. v. 8 Vahl.).

Origins

Unclear. Based on manuscript variants starting with propt-, it has been proposed to derive from an original *pro-petes-wo- (from the root of petō) with a change of /sw/ to /rw/ as in Minerva. Donatus interpreted it as a derivative of prōterō + -vus.

Descendants
  • Italianprotervo
  • Portugueseprotervo
  • Spanishprotervo

In English words that came into English from protervus

  • protervityprotervitas

Quick answers

What does protervus mean in Latin?
protervus, a adjective, means “violent, vehement; reckless, wanton, shameless, impudent; audacious”.
How do you pronounce protervus?
In classical Latin, [prɔˈtɛr.wʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [proˈtɛr.vus].