scruples

scru·ple

 (skro͞o′pəl)

n.

1. An uneasy feeling arising from conscience or principle that tends to hinder action: "He would have taken any life with as little scruple as he took my money" (Charles Dickens).

2. A unit of apothecary weight equal to about 1.3 grams, or 20 grains.

3. A minute part or amount.

intr.v. scru·pled, scru·pling, scru·ples

To hesitate as a result of conscience or principle: "A man who could make so vile a pun would not scruple to pick a pocket" (John Dennis).

---

[Middle English scrupul, from Old French scrupule, from Latin scrūpulus, small unit of measurement, scruple, diminutive of scrūpus, rough stone, scruple.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

scruples - motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions conscience, moral sense, sense of right and wrong superego - (psychoanalysis) that part of the unconscious mind that acts as a conscience ethical motive, ethics, morals, morality - motivation based on ideas of right and wrong small voice, voice of conscience, wee small voice - an inner voice that judges your behavior sense of duty, sense of shame - a motivating awareness of ethical responsibility

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.