Scru"pu*lous (?), a. [L. scrupulosus: cf. F. scrupuleux.]
1.
Full ofscrupules; inclined to scruple; nicely doubtful; hesitating to determine or to act, from a fear of offending or of doing wrong.
Abusing their liberty, to the offense of their weak brethren which were scrupulous.
Hooker.
2.
Careful; cautious; exact; nice; as, scrupulous abstinence from labor; scrupulous performance of duties.
3.
Given to making objections; captious.
[Obs.]
Equality of two domestic powers
Breed scrupulous faction.
Shak.
4.
Liable to be doubted; doubtful; nice.
[Obs.]
The justice of that cause ought to be evident; not obscrure, not scrupulous.
Bacon.
Syn. -- Cautious; careful; conscientious; hesitating.
-- Scru"pu*lous*ly, adv. -- Scru"pu*lous*ness, n.
© Webster 1913.