Associations to the word «Scruple»

Wiktionary

SCRUPLE, noun. (obsolete) A weight of twenty grains; the third part of a dram.
SCRUPLE, noun. (obsolete) Hence, a very small quantity; a particle.
SCRUPLE, noun. Hesitation as to action from the difficulty of determining what is right or expedient; unwillingness, doubt, or hesitation proceeding from motives of conscience.
SCRUPLE, noun. (obsolete) A doubt or uncertainty concerning a matter of fact; intellectual perplexity.
SCRUPLE, noun. A measurement of time. Hebrew culture broke the hour into 1080 scruples.
SCRUPLE, verb. (intransitive) To be reluctant or to hesitate, as regards an action, on account of considerations of conscience or expedience.
SCRUPLE, verb. To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question.
SCRUPLE, verb. (obsolete) To doubt; to question; to hesitate to believe; to question the truth of (a fact, etc.).
SCRUPLE, verb. To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple.

Dictionary definition

SCRUPLE, noun. A unit of apothecary weight equal to 20 grains.
SCRUPLE, noun. Uneasiness about the fitness of an action.
SCRUPLE, noun. An ethical or moral principle that inhibits action.
SCRUPLE, verb. Hesitate on moral grounds; "The man scrupled to perjure himself".
SCRUPLE, verb. Raise scruples; "He lied and did not even scruple about it".
SCRUPLE, verb. Have doubts about.

Wise words

Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the manner in which the principles of generation are used is free and infinitely varied. Even the interpretation and use of words involves a process of free creation.
Noam Chomsky