ˈkwä]m, ˈkwȧ] also ˈkwȯ] sometimes ]lm; archaic ˈkwam noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : a usually sudden attack of illness, faintness, or especially nausea
a jerk in the pit of his stomach caused him a severe internal qualm — G.B.Shaw
2.
a. : a spasm of fear : a sudden misgiving or faintheartedness
the memory gave him almost a qualm of terror — Anne D. Sedgwick
had qualms about setting forth over the treacherous waters — V.G.Heiser
b. : a sudden access of disturbing sensation or emotion
a little qualm of homesickness — C.S.Forester
a qualm of tenderness shook his unstable heart — D.C.Peattie
3. : a feeling of uneasiness about a point of conscience, honor, or propriety : compunction
their claims are formulated without any qualms of modesty — Herbert Read
he could drop her without a qualm — Lester Atwell
Synonyms: see scruple