Scruple

Quick meaning: Scruple is a noun meaning (pharmacy) A weight of ¹⁄₂₈₈ of a pound, that is, twenty grains or one third of a dram, about 1.3 grams (symbol: ℈).

Meaning

(pharmacy) A weight of ¹⁄₂₈₈ of a pound, that is, twenty grains or one third of a dram, about 1.3 grams (symbol: ℈).

More Meanings

1. A Hebrew unit of time equal to ¹⁄₁₀₈₀ hour.
2. (intransitive) To hesitate or be reluctant to act due to considerations of conscience or expedience.
3. (intransitive) To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple.
4. (transitive) To regard with suspicion; to question.
5. Hesitation to act from the difficulty of determining what is right or expedient; doubt, hesitation or unwillingness due to motives of conscience; moral qualm.
6. (obsolete, by extension) A very small quantity; a particle.
7. (obsolete) A doubt or uncertainty concerning a matter of fact; intellectual perplexity.

Example Sentences

Ricky, I'm going to miss you. Apparently you're the only one in Casablanca with less scruples than I.

Marcus Empiricus, a Roma physician, prescribed three scruples of cress, three of red onion, three of pine seed, three of Indian nard, for impotence.

Bezoar (Horſe) called Hypolites, excites Sweat, reſiſts Poiſon, kills the Worms, and ſtops a Looſeneſs; the Doſe is from half a Scruple to two Scruples.

The Oyle ſerueth in many operations, and ſpecially in all colde diſeaſes, if they be inwardly, give thereof euerye morning one ſcruple to drinke, and if they be outward annoynt.

Word Forms

• scruples
• scrupling
• scrupled

Synonyms for scruple

Depending on context, synonyms include ace, atom, atomy, aught, bissel, bit.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include misgiving, qualm, compunction, conscience, unscrupulosity, misdoubt.

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