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Cavil

//ˈkæv.əl// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A petty or trivial objection or criticism.

    "It is not worth while to spend your time in arguing against a cavil, but make him feel he is committing a sin to plead it, and thus enlist his conscience on your side."

  2. 2
    an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons. intransitive

    "'Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love."

  2. 2
    raise trivial objections wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Old French caviller (“mock, jest, rail”), from Latin cavillor (“jeer, mock, satirise, reason captiously”), from cavilla (“jeering, raillery, scoffing”); cognate with Italian cavillare, Portuguese cavillar, and Spanish cavilar; nominal usage developed within English from the original verbal usage.

Etymology 2

From Old French caviller (“mock, jest, rail”), from Latin cavillor (“jeer, mock, satirise, reason captiously”), from cavilla (“jeering, raillery, scoffing”); cognate with Italian cavillare, Portuguese cavillar, and Spanish cavilar; nominal usage developed within English from the original verbal usage.

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