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Scruple

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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1910 New Catholic Dictionary
• Scruple
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• Scrupled
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Encyclopedias
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
• Scruple
The Catholic Encyclopedia
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a term used in the two senses of (I) perplexity, doubt, reluctance or hesitation, especially the moral doubt arising from the difficulties of conscience; (2) a unit of weight, -24part of the ounce in apothecaries' weight, =1 of a dram, 20 grains (1.296 grammes). The word is an adaptation of Fr. scrupule, Lat. scrupulus, scrupulum, primarily a small sharp stone, also used in both the English meanings, dim. of scrupus, a rough stone, figuratively uneasiness of mind, probably to be connected with the root skar, to cut, cf. Gr. o-apov, stonechippings, ?"vpov, a razor.