cavil
pronunciation
How to pronounce cavil in British English:
UK [ˈkævl]
How to pronounce cavil in American English:
US [ˈkævəl]
-
- Noun:
- an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections
-
- Verb:
- raise trivial objections
Word Origin
- cavil
- cavil: see challenge
- cavil (v.)
- 1540s, from Middle French caviller "to mock, jest," from Latin cavillari "to jeer, mock; satirize, argue scoffingly" (also source of Italian cavillare, Spanish cavilar), from cavilla "jest, jeering," related to calumnia (see calumny).
Example
- 1. Some newspapers will cavil , arguing that without sensation and intrusion they cannot survive .
- 2. To find fault or criticize for petty reasons ; cavil .
- 3. How long before cavil 's forces hunt us down ?
- 4. Honey , brother cavil was my childhood priest .
- 5. Even he could find nothing to cavil about .