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
22 January 2025
(noun) memorial consisting of a very large stone forming part of a prehistoric structure (especially in western Europe)
The world’s most expensive coffee costs more than US$700 per kilogram. Asian palm civet – a cat-like creature in Indonesia, eats fruits, including select coffee cherries. It excretes partially digested seeds that produce a smooth, less acidic brew of coffee called kopi luwak.
