Pronounced: tour duh FORS, noun
Notes: The plural is tours de force. You may know this phrase
Yesterday’s word
The word cavil means, as a verb, “to raise irritating, inconsequential, or bogus objections”. As a noun, it refers to those type of objections.
First usage
Our word came into English in the mid-1500s
Background / Comments
Our word comes from the Latin word cavillārī (to jeer; scoff; quibble), which derives from cavilla (jesting; banter). It is a well-used method to attempt avoiding work or to delay something. It’s a good word to use, and you look quite smart telling someone not to cavil.
Richard's Vocabulary Word-of-the-Day 