whats cavil?

Question

use this word in a sentence

Answer 1

The verb "to cavil" (usually followed by "at" or "about") is to make petty objections; to carp. The noun "cavil" is a petty objection.



Example:

I'd rather you didn't help with arrangements for the party if you're going to cavil at all the details.

Answer 2

Caviling

Answer 3

Shakespeare used "cavil" in a sentence -- "I will cavil to the ninth hair" -- which led to the expression "splitting hairs," or raising petty objections in an attempt to avoid the real issue.

Answer 4

intransitive verb



object for no good reason: to make objections about something on small and unimportant points



noun



carping criticism: a trivial and unreasonable objection



[Mid-16th century. Via French caviller< Latin cavillari< cavilla "mockery"]



http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861595612



to make unreasonable complaints, especially about things that are not important



"The one cavil I have about the book is that it is written as a diary."



http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=12067&dict=CALD



—v.i.

to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily (usually fol. by at or about): He finds something to cavil at in everything I say.



—v.t.

to oppose by inconsequential, frivolous, or sham objections: to cavil each item of a proposed agenda.



—n.

1. a trivial and annoying objection.

2. the raising of such objections.



http://dictionary.infoplease.com/cavil



http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cavil?rdfrom=Cavil&redirect=no

Answer 5

cavil is another word for quibble, quarrel, or nit-pick.



I expect someone else will come along and cavil with my answer!