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.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
scrumpy, scrunch, scruncheon, scrunchie, scrunchy, scruple, scrupulous, scrutable, scrutator, scrutineer, scrutinise
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.
Related formsscru·ple·less, adjectiveo·ver·scru·ple, verb, o·ver·scru·pled, o·ver·scru·pling.un·scru·pled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples 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 Formsscrupleless, adjective
Word 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
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medicine 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
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