cav·il·la·tion \ˌkavəˈlāshən, -viˈ-\noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English cavillacioun, from Middle French cavillation, from Latin cavillation-, cavillatio, from cavillatus, (past participle of cavillari to cavil) + -ion-, -io -ion 1.archaic: cavil < sophistical cavillation > 2.archaic: the raising of cavils