quibble, quiddity, cavil
(noun) an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections
cavil, carp, chicane
(verb) raise trivial objections
Source: WordNet® 3.1
cavil (third-person singular simple present cavils, present participle (US) caviling or (UK) cavilling, simple past and past participle (US) caviled or (UK) cavilled)
(intransitive) To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
Synonyms: be hypercritical, nitpick, pettifog, split hairs
cavil (plural cavils)
A petty or trivial objection or criticism.
• clavi, lavic
Source: Wiktionary
Cav"il, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caviled or Cavilled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Caviling or Cavilling.] Etym: [L. cavillari to practice jesting, to censure, fr. cavilla bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller.]
Definition: To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason. You do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contract. Shak.
Cav"il, v. t.
Definition: To cavil at. [Obs.] Milton.
Cav"il, n.
Definition: A captious or frivolous objection. All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief. Shak.
Cav"il or Cav"il*er, n.
Definition: One who cavils. Cavilers at the style of the Scriptures. Boyle.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
19 April 2024
(verb) hold in suspicion; believe to be guilty; “The U.S. suspected Bin Laden as the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks”
The first coffee-house in Mecca dates back to the 1510s. The beverage was in Turkey by the 1530s. It appeared in Europe circa 1515-1519 and was introduced to England by 1650. By 1675 the country had more than 3,000 coffee houses, and coffee had replaced beer as a breakfast drink.
