\Scru"ple\, n. [L. scrupulus a small sharp or pointed
stone, the twenty-fourth part of an ounce, a scruple,
uneasiness, doubt, dim. of scrupus a rough or sharp stone,
anxiety, uneasiness; perh. akin to Gr. ? the chippings of
stone, ? a razor, Skr. kshura: cf. F. scrupule.]
1. A weight of twenty grains; the third part of a dram.
2. Hence, a very small quantity; a particle.
         I will not bate thee a scruple.       --Shak.
3. Hesitation as to action from the difficulty of determining
   what is right or expedient; unwillingness, doubt, or
   hesitation proceeding from motives of conscience.
         He was made miserable by the conflict between his
         tastes and his scruples.              --Macaulay.
{To make scruple}, to hesitate from conscientious motives; to
   scruple.                                    --Locke.

\Scru"ple\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Scrupled}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Skrupling}.]
To be reluctant or to hesitate, as regards an action, on
account of considerations of conscience or expedience.
      We are often over-precise, scrupling to say or do those
      things which lawfully we may.            --Fuller.
      Men scruple at the lawfulness of a set form of divine
      worship.                                 --South.

\Scru"ple\, v. t.
1. To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question.
         Others long before them . . . scrupled more the
         books of hereties than of gentiles.   --Milton.
2. To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple. [R.]
         Letters which did still scruple many of them. --E.
                                               Symmons.