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- Dictionarycavil/ˈkavəl/
verb
- 1. make petty or unnecessary objections: "they cavilled at the cost"
noun
- 1. a petty or unnecessary objection.
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CAVIL definition: 1. to make unreasonable complaints, especially about things that are not important 2. an…. Learn more.
: to raise trivial and frivolous objection. The author caviled about the design of the book's cover. transitive verb. : to raise trivial objections to. He caviled the conditions of the agreement. cavil noun. caviler noun. or caviller. ˈka-və-lər. ˈkav-lər. Did you know? You must be joking!
Cavil definition: to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily (usually followed by at or about). See examples of CAVIL used in a sentence.
A cavil is a small or petty objection. Cavil is not a word that comes up all that often. You can replace it with the more commonly used word quibble and still have the same meaning. If you cavil over a restaurant bill, you argue about the minute, unimportant details of who owes what — like whether your portion of the bill is $10.00 or $10.17.
CAVIL meaning: 1. to make unreasonable complaints, especially about things that are not important 2. an…. Learn more.
1. to raise trivial and unnecessary objections (usu. fol. by at or about ). v.t. 2. to oppose by trivial or frivolous objections. n. 3. a trivial and annoying objection. 4. the raising of such objections. [1540–50; < Latin cavillārī to scoff, quibble] cav′il•er; esp. Brit., cav′il•ler, n.
2 meanings: 1. to raise annoying petty objections; quibble; carp 2. a captious trifling objection.... Click for more definitions.
Definition of cavil verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Cavil definition: To argue or find fault over trivial matters; raise petty objections.
Definitions of 'cavil'. If you say that someone cavils at something, you mean that they make criticisms of it that you think are unimportant or unnecessary. [formal, disapproval] [...] More.
