First published 1921; not fully revised
Zoileanadjective
Factsheet
What does the adjective Zoilean mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adjective Zoilean. 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 Zoilean come from?
Earliest known use
1840s
The earliest known use of the adjective Zoilean is in the 1840s.
OED's only evidence for Zoilean is from 1846, in a dictionary by Joseph Worcester, lexicographer and author.
Nearby entries
- zography, n.1570
- zograscope, n.1753–
- Zohar, n.1682–
- zoic, adj.1863–
- -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–
Meaning & use
- 1846–Stressed as ˈZoilean.
- 1846
Zoilean.
J. E. Worcester, Universal Dictionary of English Language (at cited word)
- 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.