noun
scruple
Scruple (noun) means a feeling of doubt or unease that stops you doing something because it may not be right.
noun
1
A feeling of doubt or unease that stops you doing something because it may not be right.
2
A unit of weight equal to one two-hundred-and-eighty-eighth of a pound, namely twenty grains or a third of a dram, roughly 1.3 grams (symbol ℈).
"Marcus Empiricus, a Roma physician, prescribed three scruples of cress, three of red onion, three of pine seed, three of Indian nard, for impotence."
— Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs (1961)
3
A traditional Hebrew unit for measuring very short periods of time.
4
A tiny amount of something.
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Etymology
From Old French scrupule, from Latin scrūpulus (“(literally) a small sharp or pointed stone; uneasiness of mind, anxiety, doubt, trouble; scruple”) and scrūpulum (“one twenty-fourth of an ounce”), diminutives of scrūpus (“a rough or sharp stone; anxiety, uneasiness”); perhaps akin to Ancient Greek σκύρος (skúros, “the chippings of stone”), from ξυρόν (xurón, “razor”), from ξύω (xúō, “to scrape”), from Proto-Indo-European *ksew-. Doublet of escropulo and escrupulo.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for scruple
See all rhymes for scruple →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of scruple?
"scruple" (noun) means a feeling of doubt or unease that stops you doing something because it may not be right.
What is another word for scruple?
Other words for "scruple" include qualm, misgiving.
What is the opposite of scruple?
The opposite of "scruple" is oodles.
What are the different meanings of scruple?
"scruple" has 3 main meanings: 1. A feeling of doubt or unease that stops you doing something because it may not be right; 2. A unit of weight equal to one two-hundred-and-eighty-eighth of a pound, namely twenty grains or a third of a dram, roughly 1.3 grams (symbol ℈); 3. A traditional Hebrew unit for measuring very short periods of time.
