scruple

[skroo-puhl]

noun

1. a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.

   Synonyms: restraint, compunction, qualm

2. a very small portion or amount.

3. a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.295 grams) or 1/3 of a dram, apothecaries' weight.

4. an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to 1/24 of an ounce or 1/288 of an as or pound.

verb (used without object)

scrupled, scrupling 

1. to have scruples.

verb (used with object)

scrupled, scrupling 

1. to have scruples about; hesitate at.

   Synonyms: waver

scruple

/ ˈskruːpəl /

noun

1. (often plural) a doubt or hesitation as to what is morally right in a certain situation

2. archaic,  a very small amount

3. a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.296 grams)

4. an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to approximately one twenty-fourth of an ounce

verb

1. (obsolete when tr) to have doubts (about), esp for a moral reason

Other Word Forms

• scrupleless adjective
• overscruple verb
• unscrupled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scruple¹

1350–1400; (< French scrupule ) < Latin scrūpulus unit of weight, worry, precaution equivalent to scrūp ( us ) rough pebble + -ulus -ule; replacing earlier scriple, Middle English < Latin scrīpulum (variant scriptulum ) small weight, pebble, alteration of scrūpulus by association with scrīptum writing ( script; for sense relation gram ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of scruple¹

C16: from Latin scrūpulus a small weight, from scrūpus rough stone