Hypertext Webster Gateway: "caviling"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cavil \Cav"il\ (k[a^]v"[i^]l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Caviled} or
{Cavilled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Caviling} or {Cavilling}.] [L.
cavillari to practice jesting, to censure, fr. cavilla
bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller.]
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Caviling \Cav"il*ing\, a.
Disposed to cavil; finding fault without good reason. See
{Captious}.
His depreciatory and caviling criticism. --Lewis.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
caviling
adj : quibbling over insignificant details; "caviling pettifoggers
and quiggling pleaders"-Edmund Burke; "her nagging and
carping attack"; "thought her editor unnecessarily
nitpicking"; "a pettifogging lawyer's mind"; "had no
patience with quibbling critics" [syn: {carping}, {nitpicking},
{pettifogging}, {quibbling}]
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