Stickled

The rebel officer—though they were not to be called rebels: this was a rising, not a rebellion and the officer stickled for the distinction—pointed out the areas of interest. ❋ Jamie O’Neill (2002)

Ammon stickled for the _eternal_ principle of righteousness, and contended that it had been violated in the first instance. ❋ E. N. [Editor] Elliott (N/A)

Sawkins 'men taunted him with "backwardness" in that engagement, and "stickled not to defame, or brand him with the note of cowardice." ❋ John Masefield (1922)

"One party of English soldiers stickled not to contravene these commands, being tempted with the desire of finding victuals." ❋ John Masefield (1922)

Notwithstanding, one party of English soldiers stickled not to contravene these commands, being thereunto tempted with the desire of finding victuals. ❋ Clarence Henry Haring (1922)

For reasons best known to himself, Judge Priest, who ordinarily stickled for order and decorum in his courtroom, made no effort to quell the outburst or to have it quelled -- not even when a considerable number of the adults present joined in it, having first cleared their throats of a slight huskiness that had come upon them, severally and generally. ❋ Various (1915)

"Ten to one as a County magnate he stickled for it, and the High Sheriff put him on the panel to keep him amused." ❋ Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch (1903)

It was personal liberty that took every man west, but we've stood and stickled for the actual law, and we've been robbed under it: robbed as a state, and now they want to rob us as individuals. ❋ Emerson Hough (1890)

Indeed, she was so cock-a-hoop about it that she stickled for this, and she stickled for that until the attendants, who were at first inclined to be civil, began to look askance, and Foster-father had to bid her hold her tongue. ❋ Flora Annie Steel (1888)

He stickled as little against mere forms as for them; only, if they stood between the soul and Christ or between a Christian and his brethren, then he was their uncompromising opponent. ❋ James Stalker (1887)

He wished to have me register for his butler, but I stickled for private secretary, and private secretary I was written, sir, though I discovered later that the rogue had registered me as secretary to his coachman. ❋ Ruth McEnery Stuart (1886)

With different interests and different aims, the one sought to promote enterprises against which the other protested, or stickled about points of precedence when common decency called for harmonious action, or withheld its aid when that aid was indispensable for the very safety of the State. ❋ John [Editor] Rudd (1885)

He was followed by Peel who, professing to uphold the independence of the upper house, declared against the more obnoxious amendments, and stickled only for points which the ministry was not unwilling to concede. ❋ John Knight Fotheringham (1867)

Ammon stickled for the eternal principle of righteousness, and contended that it had been violated in the first instance. ❋ Thornton Stringfellow (1856)

We readily perceived that they were close dealers, stickled much for trifles, and never closed the bargain until they thought they had the advantage. ❋ Unknown (1805)

I say, enters into Gardiner's dragoons, bringing with him a body-of young fellows from his uncle's estate, who have not stickled at avowing, in their way, the High Church principles they learned at ❋ Walter Scott (1801)

Even after condemnation, Lord Russell himself, whose character is wholly (this instance excepted) free from the stain of rancour or cruelty, stickled for the severer mode of executing the sentence, in a manner which his fear of the king's establishing a precedent of pardoning in cases of impeachment (for this, no doubt, was his motive) cannot satisfactorily excuse. ❋ Charles James Fox (1777)