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Nag vs Cavil - What's the difference?

nag | cavil |

As nouns the difference between nag and cavil

is that nag is a small horse; a pony or nag can be one who while cavil is a petty or trivial objection or criticism.

As verbs the difference between nag and cavil

is that nag is to repeatedly remind or complain to someone in an annoying way, often about insignificant matters while cavil is to criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.

nag

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) nagge'', cognate with Dutch ''negge

Noun

(en noun)
  • A small horse; a pony.
  • An old useless horse.
  • (obsolete, derogatory) A paramour.
  • * 1598 , , III. x. 11:
    • Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt – Whom leprosy o'ertake!
    Synonyms
    * (old useless horse) dobbin, hack, jade, plug
    Coordinate terms
    * (old useless horse) bum (racing )

    Etymology 2

    Probably from a (etyl) source; compare Swedish .

    Verb

    (nagg)
  • To repeatedly remind or complain to someone in an annoying way, often about insignificant matters.
  • To act inappropriately in the eyes of peers, to backstab, to verbally abuse.
  • To bother with persistent memories.
    • The notion that he forgot something nagged him the rest of the day.
  • Other sorts of persistent annoyance, e.g.:
    • A nagging pain in his left knee
    A nagging north wind

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who .

    • Anagrams

    * * * * ----

    cavil

    English

    Alternative forms

    * cavel, cavell

    Verb

  • To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
  • * 1598? , William Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona , Act I, scene I:
    • 'Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1913, author=
    • , title=Lord Stranleigh Abroad , chapter=5 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.}}
  • * 1928 , D. H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterley's Lover :
    • I wish you wouldn't cavil , Hilda.

    Synonyms

    * be hypercritical, nitpick, pettifog, split hairs

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A petty or trivial objection or criticism.
  • * 1835 , Charles G. Finney, Lectures on revivals of religion :
    • 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.

    References