quarrel English · revision 1013

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkwɔɹəl/, /ˈkwɑɹəl/; /ˈkwɒɹ(ə)l/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ ''Quarrel'' “dispute” is [[inh|enm|querele]], [[bor|fro|querele|t=complaint; dispute]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la|querēla|t=complaint, accusation]], also ''querella'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''querī'' “to complain, lament”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) the source also of [[querulous]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) ''Quarrel'' “crossbow bolt” is [[inh|enm|quarel]], [[bor|fro|quarel]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la-vul|*quadrellus]], a diminutive of [[la-lat|quadrus|t=square]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) related to ''quattuor'' “four”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A ground of complaint against a person, a cause of hostile feeling (1340).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The crossbow bolt is recorded before 1225–50.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English the word meant a complaint, and in law an accusation or suit (c. 1374),^(OED 1989) and was also used of armed combat.^(Etymonline) The sense “an angry contention between persons, a falling out” dates from 1572.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The verb first meant “to complain, to find fault” (1390), as in ''to quarrel with one's bread and butter'',^(OED 1989) and from 1530 “to dispute angrily, to fall out”.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The bolt word was extended to a square or diamond-shaped pane of glass (1447).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1225 – a square-headed crossbow bolt.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1340 – a ground of complaint.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1390 – verb, to find fault.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1447 – a diamond-shaped pane of glass.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1530 – verb, to dispute angrily.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1572 – an angry dispute.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1596 – ''quarrelsome''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An angry dispute or [[altercation]], often ending friendly relations.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A cause of dispute or complaint, as in ''I have no quarrel with that''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A square-headed bolt or arrow for a [[crossbow]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A small square or diamond-shaped pane of glass in a [[lattice]] window.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To engage in a quarrel; to argue angrily; to [[squabble]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To find fault; to complain, as in ''to quarrel with a decision''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[quarreler]]

+ * [[quarrelsome]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quarry]]

+ * [[querulous]]

+ * [[quadrant]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Merriam-Webster distinguishes ''quarrel'', heated verbal contention that strains or breaks a relationship, from ''[[wrangle]]'', noisy and often prolonged dispute, ''[[altercation]]'', a noisy quarrel, and ''[[squabble]]'', a childish quarrel over a trifle.^(MW Collegiate) Random House contrasts ''quarrel'', mainly a verbal disagreement of any degree, with ''[[dissension]]'', a profound disagreement, especially within a group.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}