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.

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.

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.

Men scruple at the lawfulness of a set form of divine worship.

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.

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

Letters which did still scruple many of them.

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.

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.

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.

Men scruple at the lawfulness of a set form of divine worship.

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.

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

Letters which did still scruple many of them.

• A weight of twenty grains; the third part of a dram.
  
• Hence, a very small quantity; a particle.
       I will not bate thee a scruple. Shak.
  
• 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.
  
• (intransitive) 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.
  
• To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question.
       Others long before them ... scrupled more the books of hereties than of gentiles. -Milton.
  
• To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple.
       Letters which did still scruple many of them. -E. Symmons.