Category:Scruple

Scru"ple, n. Etym: [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. 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.]

Defn: 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 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.