cavilled
əl verb (used without object)
1.
to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily (usually followed by at or about ): He finds something to cavil at in everything I say.
verb (used with object)
2.
to oppose by inconsequential, frivolous, or sham objections: to cavil each item of a proposed agenda.
noun
3.
a trivial and annoying objection.
4.
the raising of such objections.
Origin:
1540–50; < Latin cavillārī to jeer, scoff, quibble, verbal derivative of cavilla jesting, banter
1540–50; < Latin cavillārī to jeer, scoff, quibble, verbal derivative of cavilla jesting, banter
Related forms
cav·il·er; especially British, cav·il·ler, noun
cav·il·ing·ly; especially British, cav·il·ling·ly, adverb
out·cav·il, verb (used with object), out·cav·iled, out·cav·il·ing or ( especially British ) out·cav·illed, out·cav·il·ling.
un·cav·il·ing, adjective
un·cav·il·ling, adjective
Synonyms
1. carp, complain, criticize.
1. carp, complain, criticize.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To cavilled
Collins
World English Dictionary
cavil (ˈkævɪl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb , (US) -ils, -illing, -illed, -ils, -iling, -iled | |
| 1. | (intr; |
| —n | |
| 2. | a captious trifling objection |
| [C16: from Old French caviller, from Latin cavillārī to jeer, from cavilla raillery] | |
| 'caviller | |
| —n | |
| 'cavilling | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Cavilled
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
cavil
1548, from M.Fr. caviller "to mock, jest," from L. cavillari "to satirize, argue scoffingly," from cavilla "jeering," related to calumnia (see calumny).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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