Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CAV'IL, v.i. [Sp. cavilar; Port. cavillar; It. cavillare; L. cavillor; D. kibbelen; Oriental קבל; Ch. to cry out or complain; Syr. to accuse, oppose, censure.]

1. To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason; followed by at. It is better to reason than to cavil. – Anon.
2. To advance futile objections, or to frame sophisms, for the sake of victory in an argument.