Cavil



GRE 蓝宝 Barron

解释

GRE 红宝书

• v.挑毛病, 吹毛求疵
• ［英］ v.挑毛病, 吹毛求疵 ( to object when there is little reason to do so; carp; quibble)
• ［同］ 近形词: civil ( adj. 市民的, 有礼貌的)

Webster Collegiate

verb (-iled or -illed; -iling or cavilling)

• Etymology: Latin cavillari to jest, cavil, from cavilla raillery; akin to Latin calvi to deceive — more at calumny
• Date: 1542
• intransitive verb
  • to raise trivial and frivolous objection
• transitive verb
  • to raise trivial objections to
• ? cavil noun
• ? caviler or caviller noun

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