SCRUPLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does scruple mean? 

• SCRUPLE (noun)
  The noun SCRUPLE has 3 senses:

1. a unit of apothecary weight equal to 20 grains

2. uneasiness about the fitness of an action

3. an ethical or moral principle that inhibits action

  Familiarity information: SCRUPLE used as a noun is uncommon.

• SCRUPLE (verb)
  The verb SCRUPLE has 3 senses:

1. hesitate on moral grounds

2. raise scruples

3. have doubts about

  Familiarity information: SCRUPLE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCRUPLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A unit of apothecary weight equal to 20 grains

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("scruple" is a kind of...):

apothecaries' unit; apothecaries' weight (any weight unit used in pharmacy; an ounce is equal to 480 grains and a pound is equal to 12 ounces)

Meronyms (parts of "scruple"):

grain (1/60 dram; equals an avoirdupois grain or 64.799 milligrams)

Holonyms ("scruple" is a part of...):

drachm; drachma; dram (a unit of apothecary weight equal to an eighth of an ounce or to 60 grains)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Uneasiness about the fitness of an action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

misgiving; qualm; scruple

Hypernyms ("scruple" is a kind of...):

anxiety (a vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune)

Derivation:

scruple (have doubts about)

scruple (raise scruples)

scruple (hesitate on moral grounds)

scrupulous (having scruples; arising from a sense of right and wrong; principled)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An ethical or moral principle that inhibits action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("scruple" is a kind of...):

principle (a rule or standard especially of good behavior)

Derivation:

scruple (have doubts about)

scruple (raise scruples)

scruple (hesitate on moral grounds)

scrupulous (having scruples; arising from a sense of right and wrong; principled)

• SCRUPLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they scruple    ... he / she / it scruples   
Past simple: scrupled   
Past participle: scrupled   
-ing form: scrupling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hesitate on moral grounds

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

The man scrupled to perjure himself

Hypernyms (to "scruple" is one way to...):

hesitate; pause (interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

scruple (an ethical or moral principle that inhibits action)

scruple (uneasiness about the fitness of an action)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Raise scruples

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

He lied and did not even scruple about it

Hypernyms (to "scruple" is one way to...):

fret; fuss; niggle (worry unnecessarily or excessively)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

scruple (an ethical or moral principle that inhibits action)

scruple (uneasiness about the fitness of an action)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Have doubts about

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "scruple" is one way to...):

question; wonder (place in doubt or express doubtful speculation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

scruple (an ethical or moral principle that inhibits action)

scruple (uneasiness about the fitness of an action)

 Context examples 

I do not scruple to say that she plays extremely well.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He did not scruple to add that her being at home for a while would be a great advantage to everybody.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Your sister being with you, my love, I have no scruple at all.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Catherine found that John Thorpe had given the message; and Miss Tilney had no scruple in owning herself greatly surprised by it.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Yet I had my scruples about leaving Holmes.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He did not scruple to use it.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I am sure the scruple does you honour, Mr. Sandeford.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I have no such scruples, and I am sure I could put up with every unpleasantness of that kind with very little effort.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“Do you know, Watson,” said Holmes as we sat together in the gathering darkness, “I have really some scruples as to taking you to-night. There is a distinct element of danger.”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Neither did they at all scruple, while I was by, to discharge what they had drank, to the quantity of at least two hogsheads, in a vessel that held above three tuns.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)