Civil vs Cavil - What's the difference?
civil | cavil |
(uncomparable) Having to do with people and government office as opposed to the military or religion.
(comparable) Behaving in a reasonable or polite manner.
To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
* 1598? , William Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona , Act I, scene I:
*{{quote-book, year=1913, author=
, title=Lord Stranleigh Abroad
, chapter=5 * 1928 , D. H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterley's Lover :
A petty or trivial objection or criticism.
* 1835 , Charles G. Finney, Lectures on revivals of religion :
As an adjective civil
is having to do with people and government office as opposed to the military or religion.As a verb cavil is
to criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.As a noun cavil is
a petty or trivial objection or criticism.civil
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- She went into civil service because she wanted to help the people .
- It was very civil of him to stop the argument
Derived terms
* (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) ----cavil
English
Alternative forms
* cavel, cavellVerb
- 'Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love.
citation, passage=Stranleigh found no difficulty in getting a cavalcade together at Bleacher’s station, an amazingly long distance west of New York. A man finds little trouble in obtaining what he wants, if he never cavils at the price asked, and is willing to pay in advance.}}
- I wish you wouldn't cavil , Hilda.
Synonyms
* be hypercritical, nitpick, pettifog, split hairsNoun
(en noun)- It is not worth while to spend your time in arguing against a cavil , but make him feel he is committing a sin to plead it, and thus enlist his conscience on your side.
