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A.Word.A.Day--petulant Pronunciation: WAV or RealAudio petulant (PECH-uh-lent) adjective 1. Unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered; peevish. 2. Contemptuous in speech or behavior. [Latin petulans, petulant-, insolent, from petere, to assail.] "King Coal rules West Virginia like a petulant monarch, one used to getting its way." Maryanne Vollers, Razing Appalachia, Mother Jones, 1 Jul 1999. This week's theme: words to describe people. X-Bonus How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it. -Marcus Aurelius, philosopher, writer, Roman emperor (121-180)

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