[f. as prec. + -ING2.] That cavils, captious; also, fraudulent, sophistical (obs.).
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, IV. 63. To shunne … the cauelyng tauntes of straungers.
1582. Bentley, Mon. Matrones, II. 204. The caueling aduersarie, the enimie of mankind.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., iii. (1821), 258. They did use to buy old caveling titles.
1691. Hartcliffe, Virtues, 239. An Ignorant Grammarian or a Cavelling Logician.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., iv. 116. Now the most cavilling Atheist must allow, that a solid inanimate Body, [etc.].
1835. Willis, Pencillings, II. xxxix. 18. The most cavilling mind must applaud their devoted sense of duty.
Hence Cavillingly adv., in a cavilling manner; Cavillingness, the disposition to cavil.
1563. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 46/1. Nero and Domitian … cauillinglie obiected against our doctrine.
1642. J. Eaton, Free Justif., 273. As they likewise cavillingly object.
1818. Todd, Cavillingness.
