quibbling
Use Quibbling in a sentence
lɪŋDictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
an instance of the use of ambiguous, prevaricating, or irrelevant language or arguments to evade a point at issue.
2.
the general use of such arguments.
3.
petty or carping criticism; a minor objection.
verb (used without object)
4.
to equivocate.
5.
to carp; cavil.
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 quibbling
00:10
Quibbling
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
quibble (ˈkwɪbəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to make trivial objections; prevaricate |
| 2. | archaic to play on words; pun |
| —n | |
| 3. | a trivial objection or equivocation, esp one used to avoid an issue |
| 4. | archaic a pun |
| [C17: probably from obsolete quib, perhaps from Latin quibus (from quī who, which), as used in legal documents, with reference to their obscure phraseology] | |
| 'quibbler | |
| —n | |
| 'quibbling | |
| —adj, —n | |
| 'quibblingly | |
| —adv | |
| quibble (ˈkwɪbəl) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to make trivial objections; prevaricate |
| 2. | archaic to play on words; pun |
| —n | |
| 3. | a trivial objection or equivocation, esp one used to avoid an issue |
| 4. | archaic a pun |
| [C17: probably from obsolete quib, perhaps from Latin quibus (from quī who, which), as used in legal documents, with reference to their obscure phraseology] | |
| 'quibbler | |
| —n | |
| 'quibbling | |
| —adj, —n | |
| 'quibblingly | |
| —adv | |
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
quibble
1611, "a pun, a play on words," probably a dim. of quib "evasion of point at issue" (c.1550), from L. quibus "by what (things)?," dative and ablative plural of quid "what," neut. of quis (see who). The word's overuse in legal jargon supposedly gave it the association with trivial
argument. Meaning "equivocation, evasion of the point" is attested from 1670. The verb in this sense is from 1656.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
The exercise is an absolutely necessary one, but the point-by-point approach can leave the impression of quibbling over details.
Nor, statistical quibbling aside, can there be much argument about the relative pace of growth fuelled by such investment.
You're quibbling with one of the better shows with one of the better ensembles.
The quibbling should not obscure the accomplishments of the program.
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