Tuesday, 8 August 2023

When you say 'cavil' are you speaking French?

'Cavil' is a word borrowed from French 'caviller'. The word entered the English language some time around 1542.


cavil [verb] [1542]
  • to raise trivial and frivolous objection
  • to raise trivial objections to
See 'cavil' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

Etymology: Latin 'cavillari' to jest, cavil, from 'cavilla' raillery; akin to Latin 'calvi' to deceive
See more loan words from 1500s.


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