pettifoggery

Meanings

• noun

  The practice of contriving needless quibbles or objections; petty evasions or subterfuges; harassment through endless, trifling lawsuits.

  - "The lawyer was accused of pettifoggery for his relentless pursuit of minor technicalities in the case."
  - "The plaintiff's lawyer was known for his pettifoggery, making the trial drag on for months."

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with pettifoggery
jargonery , harangery , marguerite , argentine

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Variants

List of all variants of pettifoggery that leads to same result
pettifogger , pettifoggeries , pettifoggers , pettifoggery , pettifogging , pettifoggings

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Originally, a legal term in the 17th century, derived from the name of a lawyer named Petit-Fogé, who was known for his petty and harassing lawsuits.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'pettifoggery' first appeared in print in the 1600s.

2. The word 'pettifog' is believed to have originated as a nickname for a specific lawyer named Petit-Fogé.

3. Pettifoggery is often used as a pejorative term for lawyers who engage in unnecessary and harassing legal actions.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. quibbling: A form of argument characterized by the use of ambiguous or misleading language, often for the purpose of evasion or distraction.

2. subterfuge: An intentional deception or evasion, often used to hide the truth or avoid an unpleasant or difficult situation.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Pettifoggery has been used extensively in literature, particularly in legal and courtroom settings, to describe lawyers or litigants who engage in needless and harassing legal actions.

How to Memorize "pettifoggery"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a lawyer endlessly arguing over trivial matters in a courtroom.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word with the image of a lawyer engaging in petty and harassing legal actions.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic using the acronym PETTIFOG: Petty, Endless, Trivial, Trifling, Irrational, Frivolous, Obstructive, and Harassing.

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