English Explanatory Dictionary

quarrel

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A dispute or heated argument (especially one that is verbal).
  2. Often preceded by a form of to have: a basis or ground of dispute or objection; a complaint; also, a feeling or situation of ill will and unhappiness caused by this.
  3. A propensity to quarrel; quarrelsomeness.
verb
  1. To argue fiercely; to contend; to squabble; to cease to be on friendly terms, to fall out.
  2. To find fault; to cavil.
  3. Followed by at: to disagree with; to take offence.
  4. To argue or squabble with (someone).
noun
  1. An arrow or bolt for a crossbow or an arbalest (“a late, large type of crossbow”), traditionally with the head square in its cross section.
  2. A diamond- or square-shaped piece of glass forming part of a lattice window.
  3. A square tile; a quarry tile; (uncountable) such tiles collectively.
  4. A cutting tool or chisel with a diamond- or square-shaped end.
  5. A small square-shaped opening in window tracery.

Pronunciation

/ˈkwɒɹ(ə)l/ En-uk-quarrel.oga kwôrʹəl /ˈkwɔɹəl/ kwŏrʹəl /ˈkwɑɹəl/ En-us-quarrel.ogg

Word forms

quarrel quarrels quarrell quarreling quarrelling quarreled quarrelled no-table-tags glossary quarrelest quarrellest quarrelledst quarreleth quarrelleth

Etymology

From Middle English querele (“altercation, dispute; argument, debate; armed combat; trial by combat; basis for dispute, complaint; claim, legal suit; a lament; illness”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman querele [and other forms] and Middle French querele, querelle (“altercation, dispute; basis for dispute; side in a dispute; complaint; accusation; legal suit; lament; problem”) (modern French querelle), and from their etymon Latin querēla, querella (“dispute; argument; complaint, grievance; legal complaint; lament; illness”), from querī + -ēla, -ella (suffix forming nouns). querī (“to complain; to bewail, lament; to be indignant”) comes from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwes- (“to puff; to sigh”).

Synonyms

argument argy-bargy altercation contention barney bawl out blue bobbery brawl clash conflict controversy debate difference ding-dong disagreement discordance disharmony disputation dispute dissonance disunion dustup face-off falling out feud fight flite hassle issue palaver quarrel quibble row spat squabble tangle threap tiff wrangle carrel quarry

Related words

querent quarl quarry

Derived words

it takes two to make a quarrel pick a quarrel pick-quarrel unquarrelled unquarrelling it takes two to quarrel quarreler quarreller quarrelous quarrel out quarrelsome quarrel with
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