Category: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.]

Defn: 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.

cavil Cav"il, v. t.

Defn: To cavil at. [Obs.] Milton.

cavil Cav"il, n.

Defn: A captious or frivolous objection. All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief. Shak.

cavil; caviler; caviller Cav"il or Cav"il*er, n.

Defn: One who cavils. Cavilers at the style of the Scriptures. Boyle.