Cavillation
/ˌkævɪˈleɪʃən/noun
The act of raising trivial objections or making petty, mocking remarks.
Did you know?Cavillation entered English through Latin cavillātiō, from cavillārī, meaning to jest mockingly or quibble, and it was used for sharp, sarcastic verbal sparring rather than playful joking.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
cavillārī
“to jest mockingly, quibble, or make captious objections”
Latin
Latin
cavillātiō
“mockery, quibbling, captious argument”
Late Middle English
English
cavillacioun
“mocking or captious argument”
16th Century
English
cavillation
“a mocking objection or petty dispute”
Modern English
English
cavillation
“the act of raising trivial objections or making petty, mocking remarks”