First published 1921; not fully revised
† Zoiliticaladjective
Factsheet
What does the adjective Zoilitical mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adjective Zoilitical. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is now obsolete. It is only recorded in the mid 1600s.
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 Zoilitical come from?
Earliest known use
mid 1600s
The only known use of the adjective Zoilitical is in the mid 1600s.
OED's only evidence for Zoilitical is from 1665, in the writing of John Webb, architect.
Nearby entries
- 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–
- -zoite, comb. form
- zol, n.1946–
- Zolaesque, adj.1886–
Meaning & use
Obsolete.
- 1665Stressed as Zoiˈlitical.
- 1665
Their magnificent Monuments shall come to be controverted by every Zoilitical Pretender!
J. Webb, Vindic. Stone-Heng (1725) 41
- 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.