Scruple
Scruple , noun
[Latin 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 Greek {not transcribed} the chippings of stone, {not transcribed} a razor, Sanskrit kshura: compare French 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.
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.
Collocations (1)
To make scruple , to hesitate from conscientious motives; to scruple.
Scruple , intransitive verb
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.
Men scruple at the lawfulness of a set form of divine worship.
Scruple , transitive verb
1.
To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question.
Others long before them... scrupled more the books of heretics than of gentiles.
2.
To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple. [Rare]
Letters which did still scruple many of them.