n. [ L. scrupulus a small sharp or pointed stone, the twenty-fourth part of an ounce, a scruple, uneasiness, doubt, dim. of scrupus a rough or sharp stone, anxiety, uneasiness; perh. akin to Gr. &unr_; the chippings of stone, &unr_; a razor, Skr. kshura: cf. F. scrupule. ] 1. A weight of twenty grains; the third part of a dram. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, a very small quantity; a particle. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will not bate thee a scruple. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hesitation as to action from the difficulty of determining what is right or expedient; unwillingness, doubt, or hesitation proceeding from motives of conscience. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was made miserable by the conflict between his tastes and his scruples. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

To make scruple, to hesitate from conscientious motives; to scruple. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Scrupled p. pr. & vb. n. Scrupling ] To be reluctant or to hesitate, as regards an action, on account of considerations of conscience or expedience. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are often over-precise, scrupling to say or do those things which lawfully we may. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men scruple at the lawfulness of a set form of divine worship. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question. [ 1913 Webster ]

Others long before them . . . scrupled more the books of heretics than of gentiles. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Letters which did still scruple many of them. E. Symmons. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who scruples. [ 1913 Webster ]