Scru"ple, 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.
We are often over-precise, scrupling to say or do those
things which lawfully we may.
Fuller.
Men scruple at the lawfulness of a set form of
divine worship.
South.Scru"ple, v. t. 1.
To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question.
Others long before them . . . scrupled more the
books of heretics than of gentiles.
Milton.
2. To excite scruples in; to cause to
scruple. [R.]
Letters which did still scruple many of
them.
E. Symmons.Scru"ple (?), 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. ? the chippings of
stone, ? a razor, Skr. kshura: cf. F. scrupule.]
1. A weight of twenty grains; the third part of a
dram.
2. Hence, a very small quantity; a
particle.
I will not bate thee a scruple.
Shak.
3. 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.
Macaulay.
To make scruple, to hesitate from
conscientious motives; to scruple. Locke.