cavil Hear it!

cavil definition

cavil (kav′əl)

intransitive verb caviled -·iled or cavilled -·illed, caviling -·il·ing or cavilling -·il·ling

to object when there is little reason to do so; resort to trivial faultfinding; carp; quibble (at or about)

Etymology: OFr caviller < L cavillari < cavilla, jeering < *calvilla < calvari, to deceive; akin to calumnia, calumny

noun

a trivial objection; quibble

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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