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intr.v. quib·bled, quib·bling, quib·bles To argue or find fault over trivial matters or minor concerns; cavil. n. 1. A trivial matter or minor concern raised in arguing or finding fault. 2. Archaic A pun. [Probably diminutive of obsolete quib, equivocation, perhaps from Latin quibus, dative and ablative pl. of quī, who, what (from its frequent use in legal documents); see kwo- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] quibbler n. Synonyms: quibble, carp1, cavil, nitpick These verbs mean to raise petty or frivolous objections or complaints: quibbling about minor details; a critic who constantly carped; caviling about the price of coffee; tried to stop nitpicking all the time. |
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