— compunctionless , adj.
/keuhm pungk"sheuhn/ , n.
1. a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse.
2. any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action.
[ 1350-1400; ME compunccion ( compunction- (s. of compunctio ), equiv. to L compunct ( us ), ptp. of compungere to prick severely ( com- COM- + pungere to prick; cf. POINT) + -ion- -ION ]