pettifogging
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Pettifogging — Pet ti*fog ging, a. Paltry; quibbling; mean. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Pettifogging — Pet ti*fog ging, n. Pettifoggery. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pettifogging — 1570s as a verbal noun; c.1600 as a pp. adjective; see PETTIFOGGER (Cf. pettifogger). A verb pettifog is rare and attested only from 1640s … Etymology dictionary
pettifogging — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ petty; trivial … English terms dictionary
pettifogging — [[t]pe̱tifɒgɪŋ[/t]] ADJ: ADJ n (disapproval) You can describe an action or situation as pettifogging when you think that unnecessary attention is being paid to unimportant, boring details. [OLD FASHIONED] ...pettifogging bureaucratic interference … English dictionary
Pettifogging — Pettifog Pet ti*fog, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Pettifogged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pettifogging}.] [Petty + fog to pettifog.] To do a petty business as a lawyer; also, to do law business in a petty or tricky way. He takes no money, but pettifogs gratis. S … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pettifogging — /pet ee fog ing, faw ging/, adj. 1. insignificant; petty: pettifogging details. 2. dishonest or unethical in insignificant matters; meanly petty. [1570 80; see PETTIFOG, ING2] * * * … Universalium
pettifogging — adjective or noun see pettifogger … New Collegiate Dictionary
pettifogging — (Roget s IV) modif. Syn. shifty, evasive, deceitful; see dishonest 1 , 2 , sly 1 … English dictionary for students
pettifogging — pet|ti|fog|ging [ˈpetiˌfɔgıŋ US ˌfa: , ˌfo: ] adj BrE old fashioned too concerned with small details … Dictionary of contemporary English
