Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [kav-uh l]
- /ˈkæv əl/
- /ˈkæv.əl/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [kav-uh l]
- /ˈkæv əl/
Definitions of cavil word
- verb cavil If you say that someone cavils at something, you mean that they make criticisms of it that you think are unimportant or unnecessary. 3
- verb cavil Cavil is also a noun. 3
- verb cavil to raise annoying petty objections; quibble; carp 3
- noun cavil a captious trifling objection 3
- intransitive verb cavil to object when there is little reason to do so; resort to trivial faultfinding; carp; quibble (at or about) 3
- noun cavil a trivial objection; quibble 3
Information block about the term
Origin of cavil
First appearance:
before 1540 One of the 30% oldest English words
1540-50; < Latin cavillārī to jeer, scoff, quibble, verbal derivative of cavilla jesting, banter
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Cavil
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
cavil popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 77% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
cavil usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for cavil
verb cavil
- carp — A carp is a kind of fish that lives in lakes and rivers.
- criticize — If you criticize someone or something, you express your disapproval of them by saying what you think is wrong with them.
- find fault — a defect or imperfection; flaw; failing: a fault in the brakes; a fault in one's character.
- split hairs — any of the numerous fine, usually cylindrical, keratinous filaments growing from the skin of humans and animals; a pilus.
- complain — to make an accusation; bring a formal charge
noun cavil
- quibble — an instance of the use of ambiguous, prevaricating, or irrelevant language or arguments to evade a point at issue.
- non sequitur — Logic. an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises.
- counterargument — A counterargument is an argument that makes an opposing point to another argument.
- deceptiveness — apt or tending to deceive: The enemy's peaceful overtures may be deceptive.
- plaint — a complaint.
Antonyms for cavil
verb cavil
- accept — If you accept something that you have been offered, you say yes to it or agree to take it.
Top questions with cavil
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