different between cavil vs cavillation

English

Alternative forms

• (17th–18th centuries; verb senses only): cavel, cavell

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /?kæv.?l/, /?kæv.?l/
• Rhymes: -æv?l

Verb

cavil (third-person singular simple present cavils, present participle (UK) cavilling or (US) caviling, simple past and past participle (UK) cavilled or (US) caviled)

1. (intransitive) To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.

   Synonyms: be hypercritical, nitpick, pettifog, split hairs

   • 1598?, William Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act I, scene I:

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

Translations

Noun

cavil (plural cavils)

1. A petty or trivial objection or criticism.

Translations

References

Anagrams

• clavi, lavic

English

Etymology

cavil +? -ation

Noun

cavillation (plural cavillations)

1. The act of cavilling.

Anagrams

• vacillation