scruple

scruple
I. noun Etymology: Middle English scrupil, scriple, from Anglo-French scruple, from Latin scrupulus a unit of weight, diminutive of scrupus sharp stone Date: 14th century 1. — see weight table 2. a minute part or quantity ; iota II. noun Etymology: Middle English scripil, scrupill, from Anglo-French scruble, from Latin scrupulus, diminutive of scrupus source of uneasiness, literally, sharp stone Date: 15th century 1. an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits action 2. the quality or state of being scrupulous 3. mental reservation Synonyms: see qualm III. intransitive verb (scrupled; scrupling) Date: 1627 1. to have scruples 2. to show reluctance on grounds of conscience ; hesitate

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Scruple — Scru ple, n. [L. scrupulus a small sharp or pointed stone, the twenty fourth part of an ounce, a scruple, uneasiness, doubt, dim. of scrupus a rough or sharp stone, anxiety, uneasiness; perh. akin to Gr. ? the chippings of stone, ? a razor, Skr.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scruple — • An unfounded apprehension and consequently unwarranted fear that something is a sin which, as a matter of fact, is not Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Scruple     Scruple      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Scruple — Scru ple, v. t. 1. To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question. [1913 Webster] Others long before them . . . scrupled more the books of heretics than of gentiles. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scruple — Scru ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Scrupled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scrupling}.] To be reluctant or to hesitate, as regards an action, on account of considerations of conscience or expedience. [1913 Webster] We are often over precise, scrupling to say or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scruple — n demur, *qualm, compunction Analogous words: *hesitation, hesitancy: doubt, *uncertainty, suspicion, mistrust: misgiving, *apprehension scruple vb *demur, bal …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • scruple — [n] misgiving, doubt anxiety, caution, censor, compunction, conscience, demur, difficulty, faltering, hesitancy, hesitation, pause, perplexity, qualm, reconsideration, reluctance, reluctancy, second thought*, squeamishness, superego, twinge,… …   New thesaurus

  • Scruple — (spr. ßkrūp l), im engl. Apothekergewicht 20 Grains (Minims) = 1,296 g und im frühern Handelsgewicht 10 Grains avdp. = 591 mg …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • scruple — I noun anxiety, apprehension, apprehensiveness, compunction, concern, cunctatio, doubt, doubtfulness, drawback, dubiety, dubiousness, dubitatio, fear, fearfulness, haesitatio, hesitancy, hesitation, misgiving, objection, qualm, question,… …   Law dictionary

  • Scruple —   [skruːpl, englisch] das, / s, Einheitenzeichen s, in Großbritannien und den USA gebräuchliche Masseneinheit des Apothecaries Systems für Drogen und Arzneimittel, 1 s = 20 grain = 1,295 978 4 g …   Universal-Lexikon

  • scruple — ► NOUN 1) a feeling of doubt as to whether an action is morally right. 2) historical a unit of weight used by apothecaries, equal to 20 grains. ► VERB ▪ hesitate to do something that one thinks may be wrong. ORIGIN from Latin scrupus, literally… …   English terms dictionary

  • scruple — [skro͞o′pəl] n. [MFr scrupule < L scrupulus, small sharp stone (hence small weight, difficulty, doubt), dim. of scrupus, sharp stone < IE * skreup < base * (s)ker , to cut] 1. a very small quantity, amount, or part 2. a) an ancient Roman …   English World dictionary

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