pettifogging

Meanings

• Verb (intransitive)

  Engaging in petty, often deceitful or harassing, legal proceedings or arguments.

  - "He was accused of pettifogging in the courtroom."
  - "The politicians were pettifogging over minor details in the bill."

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with pettifogging
fogging , logjamming , jogging , dogging

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Variants

List of all variants of pettifogging 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.

Originated in the late 16th century from the Dutch word 'pettifoog' meaning 'to pry into' or 'to fuss over petty matters'.

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Trivia

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

1. The term 'pettifogger' was used in the 18th century to describe a lawyer who engaged in petty, harassing legal proceedings.

2. The word 'pettifogging' has been used in various legal contexts, including in the famous English case of 'Bushell's Case (1670)'.

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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. petty disputes: Refers to disagreements over minor matters, often leading to unnecessary arguments and pettifogging.

2. legal harassment: A form of pettifogging where individuals or organizations use the legal system to harass or intimidate others.

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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.

In literature, 'pettifogging' has been used to describe petty, annoying, and harassing behavior. In art, it has been depicted as a nuisance or obstacle. In music, there is no known direct reference to the term.

How to Memorize "pettifogging"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a lawyer or an individual excessively focusing on minor details, causing unnecessary delays and arguments.
   - Visualize a game of petty disputes, where players argue over insignificant matters.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'pettifogging' with the image of a petty, annoying person or a lengthy, pointless argument.
   - Think of the word as a synonym for 'nitpicking' or 'harassment'.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic by remembering the 'P' in 'pettifogging' stands for 'Petty' and 'F' for 'Fussing' over minor matters.
   - Create a phrase: 'People Fussing Over Grievances' (PFOG) to remember the term.

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