Cavil \Cav"il\ (k[a^]v"[i^]l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caviled or
Cavilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Caviling or Cavilling.] [L.
cavillari to practice jesting, to censure, fr. cavilla
bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller.]
To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault
without good reason.
[1913 Webster]
You do not well in obstinacy
To cavil in the course of this contract. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
cavilled
See cavil
WordNet (r) 2.0
cavil
n : an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant
distinctions or objections [syn: quibble, quiddity]
v : raise trivial objections [syn: carp, chicane]
[also: cavilling, cavilled]
WordNet (r) 2.0
|
|
|