quarrel1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkwɒr(ə)l/

noun

  • an angry argument or disagreement: he made the mistake of picking a quarrel with John
  • [usually with negative] a reason for disagreement with a person, group, or principle: we have no quarrel with the people of the country, only with the dictator

verb (quarrels, quarrelling, quarrelled; US quarrels, quarreling, quarreled)

[no object]
  • have an angry argument or disagreement: stop quarrelling with your sister
  • (quarrel with) take exception to or disagree with (something): some people quarrel with this approach
  • West Indian complain or scold someone: he will quarrel like hell if he see black pods on the trees

Derivatives

quarreller

noun

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'reason for disagreement with a person'): from Old French querele, from Latin querel(l)a 'complaint', from queri 'complain'

Spelling rule

Double the l when adding endings which begin with a vowel to words which end in a vowel plus l (as in travel): (quarrels, quarrelling, quarrelled).