Catch-22 vocabulary

Some time later, somebody having carelessly observed that the Duc de Châtellerault was thinking of marrying Mlle. d’Entragues, Mme. de Marsantes who was the most captious woman in the world mounted her high horse, changed her tactics, returned to Gilberte, made a formal offer of marriage on Saint-Loup’s behalf, and the engagement was immediately announced.

Marcel Proust. In Search of Lost Time [volume 6]

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This was the state of ordinary writers: but when a personage of venerable character and high station, either in church or state, once turned author,— he maintained, that from the very moment he took pen in hand— all the devils in hell broke out of their holes to cajole him.—' Twas Term-time with them,— every thought, first and last, was captious;— how specious and good soever,—' twas all one;— in whatever form or colour it presented itself to the imagination,—'

Laurence Sterne. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman