— scrupleless , adj.
/skrooh"peuhl/ , n. , v. , scrupled, scrupling .
n.
1. a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.
2. a very small portion or amount.
3. a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.295 grams) or 1 / 3 of a dram, apothecaries' weight.
4. an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to 1 / 24 of an ounce or 1 / 288 of an as or pound. Cf. as 2 (def. 2).
v.i.
5. to have scruples.
v.t.
6. to have scruples about; hesitate at.
[ 1350-1400; ( scrupule ) scrupulus unit of weight, worry, precaution equiv. to scrup ( us ) rough pebble + -ulus -ULE; r. earlier scriple, ME scripulum (var. scriptulum ) small weight, pebble, alter. of scrupulus by assoc. with scriptum writing (see SCRIPT; for sense relation cf. GRAM) ]
Syn. 1. qualm, compunction, restraint. 6. waver.