pettifogging

He is only a pettifogging country Squire, whose views on the Land Question are ob-solete in tot-to.

Dare not say it is, or I will, upon the spot, divorce your pettifogging soul from your carrion carcass!

By conforming to the Laws of this Universe; instead of trying by pettifogging to evade and profitably contradict them.

I think you're nothing but a pettifogging lawyer—that there ain't no partner, and I'm no better'n a fool to talk to you.

The pettifogging objections to some social plan had very little chance of survival owing to the dynamic power of the reformers.