n.
Pronunciation: ' kwäm also ' kwo ̇ m or ' kwälm
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: circa 1530
1 : a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or nausea
2 : a sudden access of usually disturbing emotion (as doubt or fear)
3 : a feeling of uneasiness about a point especially of conscience or propriety
– qualmy adjective
synonyms QUALM , SCRUPLE , COMPUNCTION , DEMUR mean a misgiving about what one is doing or going to do. QUALM implies an uneasy fear that one is not following one's conscience or better judgment <no qualms about plagiarizing>. SCRUPLE implies doubt of the rightness of an act on grounds of principle <no scruples against buying stolen goods>. COMPUNCTION implies a spontaneous feeling of responsibility or compassion for a potential victim <had compunctions about lying>. DEMUR implies hesitation caused by objection to an outside suggestion or influence <accepted her decision without demur >.