Scruple SCRU'PLE, n. [L. scrupulus, a doubt; scrupulum, the third
part of a dram, from scrupus, a chess-man; probably a piece, a small
thing, from scrapping, like scrap.] 1. Doubt; hesitation from the
difficulty of determining what is right or expedient; backwardness;
reluctance to decide or to act. A man of fashionable honor makes no
scruple to take another's life, or expose his own. He has no scruples
of conscience, or he despises them. 2. A weight of twenty grains,
the third part of a dram; among goldsmiths, the weight of 24 grains.
3. Proverbially, a very small quantity. 4. In Chaldean chronology,
the 1/1080 part of an hour; a division of time used by the Jews, Arabs,
etc.. Scruple of half duration, an arch of the moon's orbit, which
the moon's center describes from the beginning of an eclipse to the
middle. Scruples of immersion or incidence, an arch of the moon's
orbit, which her center describes from the beginning of the eclipse to
the time when its center falls into the shadow. Scruples of emersion,
an arch of the moon's orbit, which her center describes in the time from
the first emersion of the moon's limb to the end of the eclipse. SCRU'PLE, v.i. To doubt; to hesitate. He scrupl'd not to eat,
against his better knowledge. SCRU'PLE, v.t. To doubt; to
hesitate to believe; to question; as, to scruple the truth or accuracy
of an account or calculation.
scruple
n 1: a unit of apothecary weight equal to 20 grains
2: uneasiness about the fitness of an action [syn: scruple,
qualm, misgiving]
3: an ethical or moral principle that inhibits action
v 1: hesitate on moral grounds; "The man scrupled to perjure
himself"
2: raise scruples; "He lied and did not even scruple about it"
3: have doubts about
scruple I. nounEtymology: 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 ;iotaII. nounEtymology: 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:seequalmIII. intransitive verb (scrupled; scrupling)
Date: 1627 1. to have scruples 2. to show reluctance
on grounds of conscience ;hesitate
scruple n. & v. --n. 1 (in sing. or pl.) a regard to the morality or propriety of an action. b a feeling of doubt or hesitation caused by this. 2 Brit. hist. an apothecaries' weight of 20
grains. 3 archaic a very small quantity. --v.intr. 1 (foll. by to + infin.; usu. with neg.) be reluctant because of scruples (did not scruple to stop their allowance). 2 feel or be
influenced by scruples. Etymology: F scrupule or L scrupulus f. scrupus rough pebble, anxiety
scruple
(scruples)Scruples are moral principles or beliefs that make you unwilling to do something that
seems wrong.
...a man with no moral scruples.N-VAR: usu pl
scruple
ˈskru:pl n. & v. --n. 1 (in sing. or pl.) a regard to the
morality or propriety of an action. b a feeling of doubt or hesitation caused
by this. 2 Brit. hist. an apothecaries' weight of 20 grains. 3 archaic a
very small quantity. --v.intr. 1 (foll. by to + infin.; usu. with neg.) be
reluctant because of scruples (did not scruple to stop their allowance). 2
feel or be influenced by scruples. [F scrupule or L scrupulus f. scrupus
rough pebble, anxiety]
Scruple \Scru"ple\, v. t.
1. To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question.
Others long before them . . . scrupled more the
books of hereties than of gentiles. --Milton.
2. To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple. [R.]
Letters which did still scruple many of them. --E.
Symmons.
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. kshura: cf. F. scrupule.]
1. A weight of twenty grains; the third part of a dram.
2. Hence, a very small quantity; a particle.
I will not bate thee a scruple. --Shak.
3. Hesitation as to action from the difficulty of determining
what is right or expedient; unwillingness, doubt, or
hesitation proceeding from motives of conscience.
He was made miserable by the conflict between his
tastes and his scruples. --Macaulay.
To make scruple, to hesitate from conscientious motives; to
scruple. --Locke.
Scruple \Scru"ple\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scrupled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Skrupling.]
To be reluctant or to hesitate, as regards an action, on
account of considerations of conscience or expedience.
We are often over-precise, scrupling to say or do those
things which lawfully we may. --Fuller.
Men scruple at the lawfulness of a set form of divine
worship. --South.
scruple
ˈskru:pl n.
1 compunction, qualm, reluctance, misgiving, second thoughts, doubt, (twinge of)
conscience, hesitation, uneasiness, discomfort, squeamishness: Peter hadn't the slightest
scruple about taking the money from his aunt. --v.
2 pause, falter, hesitate, vacillate, have doubts or compunction (about), demur, waver,
shrink from or at, have misgivings or qualms (about or over), be loath or loth (to), think twice
(about), stick at, be reluctant, balk (at), have scruples (about): Susan didn't scruple for a
moment about keeping the money she found in the street.
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