Lexic.us

Definition of Quibble

1. Verb. Evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections.

2. Noun. An evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections.

3. Verb. Argue over petty things. "Sam wants to quibble with Sue "; "Let's not quibble over pennies"

Definition of Quibble

1. n. A shift or turn from the point in question; a trifling or evasive distinction; an evasion; a cavil.

2. v. i. To evade the point in question by artifice, play upon words, caviling, or by raising any insignificant or impertinent question or point; to trifle in argument or discourse; to equivocate.

Definition of Quibble

1. Noun. A trivial or minor complaint, objection or argument. ¹

2. Verb. (intransitive) To complain or argue in a trivial or petty manner. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Quibble

1. to argue over trivialities [v -BLED, -BLING, -BLES]

Medical Definition of Quibble

1. 1. To evade the point in question by artifice, play upon words, caviling, or by raising any insignificant or impertinent question or point; to trifle in argument or discourse; to equivocate. 2. To pun; to practice punning. Synonym: To cavil, shuffle, equivocate, trifle. Origin: Quibbled; Quibbling. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Quibble

queyn queynie queynies queyns queys quezal quezales quezals qugate qugates

qui tam qui tams qui vive quiaquia quib quibble (current term) quibbled quibbler quibblers quibbles

quibbling quibblingly quibbly quiblin quiblins quibs quica quice quich quiche-eater

Literary usage of Quibble

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Glossary: Or, Collection of Words, Phrases, Names, and Allusions to by Robert Nares (1859)
"... as a diminutive of quibble. Mr. Douce, a most respectable authority, forms it from ... a little quibble. Why may not this he the scull of n lawyer ? ..."

2. The Life of Thomas Jefferson by Henry Stephens Randall (1871)
"... Enforcing Law—President's continued Avowals that Embargo was intended as a Temporary Measure—A Federal quibble to find :i Fulcrum for Sedition—Reception ..."

3. Argumentation and Debating by William Trufant Foster (1917)
"The tendency to quibble. Debates are often unsatisfactory because of quibbles over the meaning of terms, evasions of what seem to be the main issues, ..."

4. Argumentation and Debating by William Trufant Foster (1908)
"The Tendency to quibble. — Debates are often unsatisfactory because of quibbles over the meaning of terms, evasions of what seem to be the main issues, ..."

5. A Treatise on the Law of Evidence as Administered in England and Ireland by John Pitt Taylor (1887)
"... of unbroken authority, before a court of law should feel bound to surrender its judgment to what deserves no better name than a technical quibble. ..."

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