scruple
[ skroo-puhl ]
/ ˈskru pəl /
noun
a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.
a very small portion or amount.
a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.295 grams) or 1/3 of a dram, apothecaries' weight.
an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to 1/24 of an ounce or 1/288 of an as or pound.Compare as2(def 2).
verb (used without object), scru·pled, scru·pling.
to have scruples.
verb (used with object), scru·pled, scru·pling.
to have scruples about; hesitate at.
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Origin of scruple
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 (see script; for sense relation cf. gram1)
SYNONYMS FOR scruple
6 waver.
OTHER WORDS FROM scruple
scru·ple·less, adjectiveo·ver·scru·ple, verb, o·ver·scru·pled, o·ver·scru·pling.un·scru·pled, adjectiveWords nearby scruple
scrumpy, scrunch, scruncheon, scrunchie, scrunchy, scruple, scrupulous, scrutable, scrutator, scrutineer, scrutinize
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for scruples
British Dictionary definitions for scruples
scruple
/ (ˈskruːpəl) /
noun
(often plural) a doubt or hesitation as to what is morally right in a certain situation
archaic a very small amount
a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.296 grams)
an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to approximately one twenty-fourth of an ounce
verb
(obsolete when tr) to have doubts (about), esp for a moral reason
Derived forms of scruple
scrupleless, adjectiveWord Origin for scruple
C16: from Latin scrūpulus a small weight, from scrūpus rough stone
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for scruples
scruple
[ skrōō′pəl ]
n.
An uneasy feeling arising from conscience or principle that tends to hinder action.
A unit of apothecary weight that is equal to about 1.3 grams, or 20 grains.
A minute part or amount.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.