Cavil
['kæv(ə)l] or ['kævl]
Definition
(v. i.) To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason.
(v. t.) To cavil at.
(n.) A captious or frivolous objection.
Checked by Lemuel
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Frivolous objection, captious criticism, unwarranted censure, fallacious reason, sophistical argument.
Typist: Stacey
Synonyms and Antonyms
[See CARP]
Checker: Mario
Definition
v.t. to make empty trifling objections: to use false arguments:—pr.p. cav′illing; pa.p. cav′illed.—n. a frivolous objection.—ns. Cavillā′tion Cav′illing; Cav′iller.
Editor: Stacy
Examples
- The hypercritical may cavil and say that, as a manufacturer of cement, Edison will be benefited. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Miss Ophelia felt rather disposed to cavil at this picture, and was laying down her knitting to begin, but St. Clare stopped her. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Edited by Lancelot