compunctious

American  

[kuhm-puhngk-shuhs] / kəmˈpʌŋk ʃəs /

adjective

1. causing or feeling compunction; regretful.

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Other Word Forms

• compunctiously adverb

Etymology

Origin of compunctious

First recorded in 1595–1605; compunct(ion) + -ious

Example Sentences

That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose.

From Familiar Quotations A Collection of Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs Traced to Their Sources in Ancient and Modern Literature by Bartlett, John

Then as he tried to comfort her, being very compunctious himself at having failed utterly to trust one so brave and noble, she suddenly drew herself from his embrace.

From How It All Came Round by Meade, L. T.

Finally the servants gave up the attempt to coax him back into the world, and with a compunctious pity they spread an old rug for him on the chest, and fed him faithfully every day.

From An Isle in the Water by Tynan, Katharine

The unacknowledged yearnings of nature, excited by his resemblance to his father, made him wish to save his life, while the compunctious visitings of mercy were again repressed by terror for his own.

From The Loyalists, Vol. 1-3 An Historical Novel by West, Jane

Her tears had fallen now, but she had no compunctious self-deception, and her long-framed feelings were only complicated, not really altered.

From Atlantic Narratives Modern Short Stories by Ashe, Elizabeth