cavilling
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 cavilling
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 | |
00:10
Cavilling
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| cavil (ˈkævɪl) | |
| —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
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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