Word of the Day : June 8, 2019

quibble \KWIB-ul\ verb

Definition

1 : to evade the point of an argument by caviling about words

2 a : to find fault by raising trivial or frivolous objection

b : to engage in a petty quarrel : bicker

3 : to subject to minor objections or criticisms

Did You Know?

In addition to functioning as a verb, quibble also exists as a noun meaning "an evasion of or shift from the point" and "a minor objection or criticism." Both forms of the word arrived in English in the mid-17th century. Presumably (though not certainly) quibble originated as a diminutive of a now obsolete word, quib, which also meant "quibble." In fact, although language experts may quibble over this, there is a possibility that quib can be traced back to the plural of the Latin word qui, meaning "who," which was often used in legal documents. If so, that makes quibble a very distant cousin of the English word who.

Aired June 8, 2019

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