Word of the Day

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

cavil

\KAV-uhl\ , intransitive verb;

To raise trivial or frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason.

transitive verb:

To raise trivial objections to.

noun:

A trivial or frivolous objection.

Quotes:

Insiders with their own strong views, after all, tend to cavil about competing ideas and stories they consider less than comprehensive.

-- Laurence I. Barrett, "Dog-Bites-Dog", Time, October 30, 1989

It may seem churlish, amid the selection of so much glory, to cavil at a single omission, but I do think a great opportunity has been missed.

-- Tom Rosenthal, "Rome sweet Rome", New Statesman, February 5, 2001

He was determined not to be diverted from his main pursuit by cavils or trifles.

-- William Safire, Scandalmonger

Origin:

Cavil comes from Latin cavillari, "to jeer, to quibble," from cavilla, "scoffing."