SCRUPLE • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Scruple

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/skrˈupəl/ Listen

noun

Scruple n.

A weight of twenty grains; the third part of a dram.

Hence, a very small quantity; a particle. "I will not bate thee a scruple."

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."

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

verb

Scruple v. t.

To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question. "Others long before them... scrupled more the books of heretics than of gentiles."

To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple. (R.) "Letters which did still scruple many of them."

Scruple v. i. (past & past part. scrupled; pres. part. scrupling) 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."

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Etymology of 'Scruple'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Scruple" Quotes from Famous Books

... seem, and I think I know him pretty well,' he continued in the same sprightly way, 'Charles Archer would dispose of each of us—you understand—without a scruple, precisely when and how best suited his convenience. Now doctor Sturk has sent him a message which I know will provoke him, for it sounds like a threat. If he reads it so, rely on't, he'll lay Sturk on his back, one way or another, and I'm sorry for him, for I wished him well; ...

— The House by the Church-Yard • J. Sheridan Le Fanu

... next morning. She had not at all made up her mind what to do. She was, as I have shown, a very selfish girl, and not by any means of a good disposition; indeed, I should say, that no selfish person could be. But she was not in the habit of telling direct falsehoods, though she did not scruple to prevaricate, if such a course suited her purpose; and this practice is certainly not only near akin to falsehood, but leads ...

— Aunt Mary • Mrs. Perring

... a little private hankering after Athens, though he ridicules it. He had no scruple about annexing Athens, although not yet taken. I said I thought Polignac would be disposed to hold our language to Russia, if we would make some concession on the subject of Greece, and enable him to settle that question with eclat. He would then ...

— A Political Diary 1828-1830, Volume II • Edward Law (Lord Ellenborough)

... but charitable to suppose all is right. That's the rule. Besides, we should not throw the first stone." Then Lady Cecilia pleaded, lady this and lady that, and the whole county, without the least scruple would visit Madame ...

— Helen • Maria Edgeworth

... the House of Austria, on the other hand, extolled the wisdom and virtue of the discarded statesman in a manner which gave great offence at Whitehall. James was particularly angry with the secretary of the imperial legation, who did not scruple to say that the eminent service which Halifax had performed in the debate on the Exclusion Bill had been requited with gross ...

— The History of England from the Accession of James II. - Volume 2 (of 5) • Thomas Babington Macaulay

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