carping

Verb

carp (third-person singular simple present carps, present participle carping, simple past and past participle carped)

1. (intransitive) To criticize or complain about a fault, especially for frivolous or petty reasons; to cavil.
   • Here agayne Seruetto carpeth, yͭ God did beare the perſon of an Angel. As thoughe the Prophete did not confirme that whiche Moſes had ſaied: why doeſt thou aſke me of my name?1561 May 16 (Gregorian calendar), Ihon Caluin [i.e., John Calvin], “That there is Taught in the Scriptures One Essence of God from the Very Creation, which Essence Conteineth in It Thre Persons”, in...
2. (intransitive, obsolete) To speak, to talk; also, to talk about a subject in speech or writing.
3. (intransitive, obsolete) To talk much but to little purpose; to chatter, to prattle.
   • And some of them barke, / Clatter and carpe / Of that heresy arte / Called Wicleuista, / The deuelysshe dogmatista; […]1521–1522, John Skelton, “Here after Followeth a Litel Boke Called Colyn Cloute, […]”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […]...

   Synonyms:

   blabber, prate, babble, bat the breeze, blab, blather, chat, chatter, chew the fat, chew the rag

4. (intransitive, obsolete) Of a bird: to sing; of a person (such as a minstrel): to sing or recite.
   • Hys hart is to hy to haue any hap; / But for in his gamut carp that he can, / Lo, Jak wold be a jentylman!a. 1530 (date written), John Skelton, “Against a Comely Coystrowne, that Curyowsly Chawntyd, and Curryshly Cowntred, […]”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume...
5. (obsolete, transitive) To say or tell (something).
6. (obsolete, transitive) To find fault with (someone or something); to censure, to criticize.
   • Albeit I doe knovve they [the speeches] vvill lie open to the cenſure of the youth of our time, vvho for the moſt part, are ſo over-gulled vvith ſelf-liking, that they are more then giddy in admiring themſelves, and carping vvhatſoever hath beene done or ſaide heeretofore, Nevertheleſſe I hope that...1605, M. N. [pseudonym; William Camden], “Grave Speeches, and Wittie Apothegmes of Woorthie Personages of This Realme in Former Times”, in Remaines of a Greater Worke, Concerning Britaine, […]...

   Synonyms:

   reprehend, reprove, take exception

See all 10 meanings of carp