Have no scruple

  • 1Scruple — • An unfounded apprehension and consequently unwarranted fear that something is a sin which, as a matter of fact, is not Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Scruple     Scruple      …

    Catholic encyclopedia

  • 2scruple — [n] misgiving, doubt anxiety, caution, censor, compunction, conscience, demur, difficulty, faltering, hesitancy, hesitation, pause, perplexity, qualm, reconsideration, reluctance, reluctancy, second thought*, squeamishness, superego, twinge,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 3scruple — [skro͞o′pəl] n. [MFr scrupule < L scrupulus, small sharp stone (hence small weight, difficulty, doubt), dim. of scrupus, sharp stone < IE * skreup < base * (s)ker , to cut] 1. a very small quantity, amount, or part 2. a) an ancient Roman …

    English World dictionary

  • 4scruple — 1 noun (countable usually plural) a belief about right and wrong that prevents you from doing something bad: Atkins was a ruthless man with few moral scruples. | without scruple (=without caring about the effects your actions may have on other… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 5scruple — {{11}}scruple (n.) moral misgiving, pang of conscience, late 14c., from O.Fr. scrupule (14c.), from L. scrupulus uneasiness, anxiety, pricking of conscience, lit. small sharp stone, dim. of scrupus sharp stone or pebble, used figuratively by… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6scruple — /ˈskrupəl / (say skroohpuhl) noun 1. hesitation or reluctance from conscientious or other restraining reasons: *I felt strong and brave again, with not a scruple left. –jessica anderson, 1978. 2. a very small portion or amount. 3. a unit of… …

  • 7scruple — 1. noun /ˈskɹuː.pəl/ Hesitation as to action from the difficulty of determining what is right or expedient; unwillingness, doubt, or hesitation proceeding from motives of conscience; to consider if something is ethical. Paroles: I have not, my… …

    Wiktionary

  • 8scruple — scru|ple1 [ skrupl ] noun count usually plural a moral principle that prevents you from doing something you think is bad: She had no scruples about eavesdropping on conversations. scruple scru|ple 2 [ skrupl ] verb not scruple to do something… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 9scruple — scrupleless, adj. /skrooh peuhl/, n., v., scrupled, scrupling. n. 1. a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions. 2. a very small portion or amount. 3. a unit of weight equal to 20… …

    Universalium

  • 10scruple — I. noun Etymology: Middle English scrupil, scriple, from Anglo French scruple, from Latin scrupulus a unit of weight, diminutive of scrupus sharp stone Date: 14th century 1. see weight table 2. a minute part or quantity ; iota II. noun …

    New Collegiate Dictionary