† ˈcavillous, a. Obs.
[ad. L. cavillōs-us (f. cavilla: see cavil and -ous; or ad. OF. cavilleus, -eux in same sense.]
Full of cavils or cavilling; (of persons) apt to cavil.
| 1572 Buchanan Detect. Mary in H. Campbell Love-lett. Mary Q. Scots 140 Though we would shift it off by cavillous expounding. 1577 Hellowes Gueuara's Chron. 330 Bassian was..also more cauillous and troublesome. 1645 Digby Man's Soul viii. (1657) 78 Cavillous scruples, and wild doubts. 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 56 Cavillous and unfaithful Advocates, by whose Fraud and Iniquity, Justice is destroy'd. 1851 Gallenga tr. Marriotti's Italy 354 The war-ministry were lukewarm, cavillous, impracticable. |
Hence † ˈcavillously adv.; cavillousness.
| 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. xiii. (1634) 59 Falsly and cavillously they ascribe unto us a device of their owne braine. 1648 Milton Observ. Art. Peace (1851) 559 By the Covenant it self, since that so cavillously is urg'd against us. |