v. t. To cavil at. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A captious or frivolous objection. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Caviled or Cavilled p. pr. & vb. n. Caviling or Cavilling. ] [ L. cavillari to practice jesting, to censure, fr. cavilla bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller. ] To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason. [ 1913 Webster ]

You do not well in obstinacy
To cavil in the course of this contract. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Disposed to cavil; finding fault without good reason. See Captious. [ 1913 Webster ]

His depreciatory and caviling criticism. Lewis. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a caviling manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. cavillation, L. cavillatio. ] Frivolous or sophistical objection. [ Obs. ] Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or } n. One who cavils. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cavilers at the style of the Scriptures. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or } a. [ L. cavillosus. ] Characterized by caviling, or disposed to cavil; quibbing. [ R. ]

-- Cav"il*ous*ly, adv. [R.] -- Cav"il*ous*ness, n. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]