quarrel

quarrel
I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, square block of stone, bolt, from Vulgar Latin *quadrellum, diminutive of Latin quadrum square — more at quadrate Date: 13th century a square-headed bolt or arrow especially for a crossbow II. noun Etymology: Middle English querele, from Anglo-French, from Latin querela grievance, complaint, from queri to complain Date: 14th century 1. a ground of dispute or complaint <
have no quarrel with a different approach
>
2. a usually verbal conflict between antagonists ; altercation Synonyms: quarrel, wrangle, altercation, squabble mean a noisy dispute usually marked by anger. quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention <
a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship
>
. wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions <
wrangle interminably about small issues
>
. altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows <
a loud public altercation
>
. squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger <
a brief squabble over what to do next
>
. III. intransitive verb (-reled or -relled; -reling or -relling) Date: 14th century 1. to find fault <
many people quarrel with the idea — Johns Hopkins Magazine
>
2. to contend or dispute actively <
quarreled frequently with his superiors — London Calling
>
quarreler or quarreller noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • quarrel# — quarrel n Quarrel, wrangle, altercation, squabble, bickering, spat, tiff are comparable when they mean a dispute marked by anger or discord on both sides. The same distinctions in implications and connotations are found in their corresponding… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Quarrel — Quar rel, n. [OE. querele, OF. querele, F. querelle, fr. L. querela, querella, a complaint, fr. queri to complain. See {Querulous}.] 1. A breach of concord, amity, or obligation; a falling out; a difference; a disagreement; an antagonism in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Quarrel — Quar rel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Quarreled}or {Quarrelled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Quarreling} or {Quarrelling}.] 1. To violate concord or agreement; to have a difference; to fall out; to be or become antagonistic. [1913 Webster] Our people quarrel with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Quarrel — Quar rel, v. t. 1. To quarrel with. [R.] I had quarelled my brother purposely. B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] 2. To compel by a quarrel; as, to quarrel a man out of his estate or rights. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Quarrel — Quar rel, n. [OE. quarel, OF. quarrel, F. carreau, LL. quadrellus, from L. quadrus square. See {Quadrate}, and cf. {Quadrel}, {Quarry} an arrow, {Carrel}.] 1. An arrow for a crossbow; so named because it commonly had a square head. [Obs.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quarrel — ► NOUN 1) an angry argument or disagreement. 2) a reason for disagreement. ► VERB (quarrelled, quarrelling; US quarreled, quarreling) 1) have a quarrel. 2) ( …   English terms dictionary

  • Quarrel — est un personnage de James Bond. Il est natif des îles Caïmans résidant dorénavant en Jamaïque. James Bond le rencontre pour la première fois dans le roman Requins et services secrets. Quarrel est une aide précieuse pour James Bond, tant par sa… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • quarrel — [n] disagreement affray, altercation, argument, battle royal*, beef*, bickering*, brannigan*, brawl, breach, broil*, catfight*, combat, commotion, complaint, contention, controversy, difference, difference of opinion, difficulty, disapproval,… …   New thesaurus

  • quarrel — quarrel1 [kwôr′əl, kwär′əl] n. [ME quarel < OFr < ML querellus < VL * quadrellum, dim. of L quadrus, a square] 1. a bolt or arrow with a quadrangular head, shot from a crossbow 2. a small, diamond shaped or square pane of glass, as in a… …   English World dictionary

  • Quarrel — Quar rel, n. [Written also quarreller.] One who quarrels or wrangles; one who is quarrelsome. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quarrel — index altercation, argument (contention), bicker, brawl, challenge, collide (clash), commotion …   Law dictionary

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