CAVILING
Verb
caviling
present participle of cavil
Noun
caviling (plural cavilings)
cavilation
Source: Wiktionary
Cav"il*ing, a.
Definition: Disposed to cavil; finding fault without good reason. See
Captious.
His depreciatory and caviling criticism. Lewis.
CAVIL
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