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scruple |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: scruple n 1: a unit of apothecary weight equal to 20 grains 2: uneasiness about the fitness of an action [syn: {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
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