'Petulance' definitions:

Definition of 'petulance'

From: WordNet
noun
An irritable petulant feeling [syn: irritability, crossness, fretfulness, fussiness, peevishness, petulance, choler]

Definition of 'Petulance'

From: GCIDE
  • Petulance \Pet"u*lance\, Petulancy \Pet"u*lan*cy\, n. [L. petulania: cf. F. p['e]tulance. See Petulant.] The quality or state of being petulant; temporary peevishness; pettishness; capricious ill humor. "The petulancy of our words." --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]
  • Like pride in some, and like petulance in others. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]
  • The lowering eye, the petulance, the frown. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Petulance, Peevishness. -- Peevishness implies the permanence of a sour, fretful temper; petulance implies temporary or capricious irritation. [1913 Webster]