different between pettifog vs cavil

English

Etymology

Back-formation from pettifogger.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p?t.i?f??/

Alternative forms

pettyfog, petty-fog

Verb

pettifog (third-person singular simple present pettifogs, present participle pettifogging, simple past and past participle pettifogged)

1. To quibble over trivial matters; nitpick.

   Don't pettifog or we will soon grow weary.

2. To do a petty business as a lawyer, or carry out law business in a petty or tricky way.
   • S. Butler

     He is a common barreter for his pleasure, that takes no money, but pettifogs gratis.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:squabble

Related terms

• pettifogger

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