Scru"ple (?), n. [L. 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 Gr. the chippings of stone, a razor, Skr. kshura: cf. F. 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. Shak.

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. Macaulay.

To make scruple, to hesitate from conscientious motives; to scruple. Locke.

 

© Webster 1913.


Scru"ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scrupled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Skrupling (?).]

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. Fuller.

Men scruple at the lawfulness of a set form of divine worship. South.

 

© Webster 1913.


Scru"ple, v. t.

1.

To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question.

Others long before them . . . scrupled more the books of hereties than of gentiles. Milton.

2.

To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple.

[R.]

Letters which did still scruple many of them. E. Symmons.

 

© Webster 1913.

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