First published 1921; not fully revised
Zoilousadjective
Factsheet
What does the adjective Zoilous mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adjective Zoilous. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
Where does the adjective Zoilous come from?
Earliest known use
late 1500s
The earliest known use of the adjective Zoilous is in the late 1500s.
OED's earliest evidence for Zoilous is from 1577, in the writing of John Grange, poet.
Nearby entries
- -zoic, comb. form¹
- -zoic, comb. form²
- zoid, n.1856–
- zoid, adj.1864–
- zoidiophilous, adj.1872–
- zoidogamous, adj.1899–
- Zoilean, adj.1846–
- Zoilism, n.1609–
- Zoilist, n.1594–
- Zoilitical, adj.1665
- Zoilous, adj.1577–
- Zoilus, n.1565–
- zoisite, n.1805–
- zoism, n.1900–
- zoist, n.1843–
- zoistic, adj.1849–
- zoite, n.1963–
- -zoite, comb. form
- zol, n.1946–
- Zolaesque, adj.1886–
- Zolaism, n.1882–
Meaning & use
- 1577–Characteristic of Zoilus or his criticism.Stressed as ˈZoilous.
- 1577
I thought it good (somwhat to stop a zoilous mouth) to sette a more cleanly name vpon it, that is, Golden Aphroditis.
J. Grange, Golden Aphroditis Epistle Ded. sig. Aivv - 1618
Hee..therefore needeth not be daunted for the taunts of any Zoylous beholders.
M. Baret, Hipponomie i. 47
- captiousc1380–Apt to catch at faults or take exception to actions; disposed to find fault, cavil, or raise objections; fault-finding, cavilling, carping.
- pick-fault1544–a. n. A fault-finder; †b. adj. fault-finding (Obsolete).
- fastidious?1555–Scrupulously or minutely concerned with refinement in matters of taste or propriety; having exacting standards or paying meticulous attention to…
- sharp-nosed1561–79Having a keen ‘scent’; figurative quick at fault-finding, captious. Obsolete.
- cavillous?1571–1851Full of cavils or cavilling; (of persons) apt to cavil.
- carpacious1574Given to carping.
- cavillinga1576–That cavils, captious; also, fraudulent, sophistical (obsolete).
- find-fault1576–That finds fault, fault-finding.
- Zoilous1577–Characteristic of Zoilus or his criticism.
- carpinga1586–That carps; fault-finding, censorious, captious.
- exceptious1602–Disposed to make objections; cavilling, peevish, captious.
- quarrellous1610Quarrelsome, argumentative; litigious; fault-finding. Now chiefly U.S.
- exceptive1623–Of persons and their utterances: Disposed or tending to take exception; hypercritical, captious.
- Zoilitical1665= Zoilous, adj.
- nibbling1691–1887Carping, fault-finding. Obsolete.
- pickthanking1830= pickthank, adj.
- Zoilean1846–= Zoilous, adj.
- snippy1848–dialect and colloquial. Fault-finding, snappish, sharp; putting on airs, supercilious.
- nitpicking1948–Pedantic; fault-finding; pernickety, fussy.
- nitpicky1962–Excessively pedantic; = nitpicking, adj.