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Hence, a very small quantity; a particle. I will not bate thee a scruple. Shak.

One who scruples.

ght whale. -- To be upon the bones of, to attack. [Obs.] -- To make no bones, to make no scruple; not to hesitate. [Low] -- To pick a bone with, to quarrel with, as dogs quarrel over a bone; to settle a disagreement. [Colloq.]

] Chaucer. Conscience clause, a clause in a general law exempting persons whose religious scruples forbid compliance therewith, -- as from taking judicial oaths, rendering military service, etc. -- Conscience money, stolen or wrongfully acquired money that is voluntarily restored to the rightful possessor. Such money…

To scruple or object; to take exception; as, I demur to that statement.

One who doubts; one whose opinion is unsettled; one who scruples.

r of the lives of the saints; a hagiographer. Tylor. Hagiologists have related it without scruple. Southey.

t under oath, but give their statements or verdicts on their honor. -- Point of honor, a scruple or nice distinction in matters affecting one's honor; as, he raised a point of honor. -- To do the honors, to bestow honor, as on a guest; to act as host or hostess at an entertainment. "To do the honors and to give the w…

er fluid without boiling, for the propose of extracting medicinal qualities; to soak. One scruple of dried leaves is infused in ten ounces of warm water. Coxe.

A weight of twelve grains; or, according to some, of ten grains, or half a scruple. [Written also obol.]

A prick or scruple of conscience; uneasiness of conscience; compunction. Dryden.

ents; foolish talk; nonsense. [Colloq.] Often one's dear friend talks something which one scruples to call rigmarole. De Quincey.

A scrupler. [Obs.]

To perplex with scruples; to regard with scruples. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

Full ofscrupules; inclined to scruple; nicely doubtful; hesitating to determine or to act, from a fear of offending or of doing wrong. Abusing their liberty, to the offense of their weak brethren which were scrupulous. Hooker.

cing a woman to consent to unlawful sexual intercourse, by enticements which overcome her scruples; the wrong or crime of persuading a woman to surrender her chastity.

et. This would silence all further opposition. Clarendon. These would have silenced their scruples. Rogers.

doubt; to solve difficulties; to solve a problem. True piety would effectually solve such scruples. South. God shall solve the dark decrees of fate. Tickell.

To be embarrassed or puzzled; to hesitate; to be deterred, as by scruples; to scruple; -- often with at. They will stick long at part of a demonstration for want of perceiving the connection of two ideas. Locke. Some stick not to say, that the parson and attorney forged a will. Arbuthnot.

; excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; also, a rite or practice proceeding from excess of sculptures in religion. And the truth With superstitions and traditions taint. Milto…