Words / C2

KAVL/ˈkævl/

To cavil is to make petty objections (cavil at); as a noun, a quibble: cavil at the wording, without cavil. To quibble (already in the dictionary) is the close twin of nitpicking a small point; to bicker (already in the dictionary) is to quarrel over petty things, and querulous (already in the dictionary) is peevishly complaining, of tone. The font is not the n.

Meaning

To make petty objections (cavil at); also a noun: a quibble.

Examples

• “Do not cavil at the font while the n is empty.”
• “To quibble is to nitpick (already in C2). To bicker is to quarrel over petty points (already in C2). Querulous is peevish complaint (already in C2). Type can be exact. Type that never states the n is branding. Write the number; then the font.”

Good to know

Nitpick; raise petty objections. Close: quibble (already in C2). Contrast: bicker (petty quarrel — already in C2); querulous (peevish tone — already in C2). Type ≠ an n.

Near in meaning

quibble, nitpick, carp, niggle

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