n.
Pronunciation: k ə m- ' p ə ŋ (k)-sh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English compunccioun, from Anglo-French compunction, from Late Latin compunction-, compunctio, from Latin compungere to prick hard, sting, from com- + pungere to prick ― more at PUNGENT
Date: 14th century
1 a : anxiety arising from awareness of guilt < compunction s of conscience> b : distress of mind over an anticipated action or result <showed no compunction in planning devilish engines of ⋯ destruction ― Havelock Ellis>
2 : a twinge of misgiving : SCRUPLE <cheated without compunction >
synonyms see PENITENCE , QUALM
– com · punc · tious \ -sh ə s \ adjective