Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Cavil

Cav′il

(kăv′ĭl)
,
Verb.
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.
Shakespeare

Cav′il

,
Verb.
T.
To cavil at.
[Obs.]
Milton.

Cav′il

,
Noun.
A captious or frivolous objection.
All the
cavils
of prejudice and unbelief.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition

Cavil

CAVIL

, v.i.
1.
To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason; followed by at.
It is better to reason than to cavil.
2.
To advance futile objections, or to frame sophisms, for the sake of victory in an argument.

CAVIL

,
Verb.
T.
To receive or treat with objections.
Wilt thou enjoy the good. Then civil the conditions.

CAVIL

,
Noun.
False or frivolous objections; also, a fallacious kind of reason, bearing some resemblance to truth, advanced for the sake of victory.

Similar Results