[com.punc.tion] n [ME compunccioun, fr. MF componction, fr. LL compunction-, compunctio, fr. L compungere to prick hard, sting, fr. com- + pungere to prick--more at pungent] (14c) 1 a: anxiety arising from awareness of guilt "~s of conscience" b: distress of mind over an anticipated action or result "showed no ~ in planning devilish engines of ... destruction --Havelock Ellis"
2: a twinge of misgiving: scruple "cheated without ~" syn see penitence, qualm -- com.punc.tious adj