cavillings

What would Homer, Sophocles, Demosthenes, Archimedes, have said, had they witnessed the subtle cavillings which have cost so much blood.

A Philosophical Dictionary 2007

All the miserable cavillings against his Journey, in newspapers, magazines, and other fugitive publications, I can speak from certain knowledge, only furnished him with sport.

The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D. 2004

But now there was no more room for doubts and precautions, and she surrendered herself to him with an artless abandon; while into his feelings for her stole a tender, jealous passion that made him not only hotly overthrow his previous cavillings, but even take up arms for her defects.

Succedaneum 2004

In ministerial reproofs, there is the most express and immediate application of his authority made unto the minds of men; which, if it be carelessly slighted or proudly despised, or evacuated by perverse cavillings, as is the manner of some in such cases, it is an open evidence of a heart that never yet sincerely took upon it this law and yoke.

The Sermons of John Owen 1616-1683 1968

Wherefore, this objection proceeding only from the craft of Satan, opposing the ways and methods of God's grace when he dareth not openly oppose the thing itself, it is safer for a believer to rest quietly in the clear Scripture revelation than to attend unto such proud, perverse, and froward cavillings.

Pneumatologia 1616-1683 1967

So long as a general's sword is seemingly invincible, and the uniformity of his success silences even the cavillings of envy, -- that most persistent of all the unlovely emotions, -- just so long he may safely count on a unanimity of public approval.

The New England Magazine Volume 1, No. 6, June, 1886, Bay State Monthly Volume 4, No. 6, June, 1886 Various

It may be, and has been, urged by some, that the Thames is not exactly the place to form the naval character; that a habit of braving the "dangers of the deep" is hardly to be acquired where one may walk across at low tide, on account of the water being so confoundedly _shallow_: but these are cavillings which the lofty and truly patriotic mind will at once and indignantly repudiate.

Punch, or the London Charivari. Volume 1, July 31, 1841 Various

The vague and unformulated idea behind all such petty cavillings is that the English language is in danger of being corrupted by the importation of Americanisms and that it behooves us to establish a sort of quarantine in order to keep out the detrimental germs.

Chapter 1. Introductory. 3. The View of Writing Men Henry Louis 1921

The suras of this period contain some narratives from the Gospel, enjoin the rites of pilgrimage, refute the cavillings of the Koreish, and contain vivid descriptions of the resurrection, judgment, heaven, and hell, with proofs of God's unity, power, and providence.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 8: Infamy-Lapparent 1840-1916 1913

Doubt storms-in on him through every avenue; inquiries of the deepest, painfulest sort must be engaged with; and the invincible energy of young years waste itself in sceptical, suicidal cavillings; in passionate ‘questionings of Destiny, ’ whereto no answer will be returned.

Paras. 40-58 1909