scruple

Tanımlar (İngilizce)

1. isim Hesitation to act from the difficulty of determining what is right or expedient; doubt, hesitation or unwillingness due to motives of conscience; moral qualm.

   “[U]ntil the Commonwealth [of England] torture was constantly used as an instrument of evidence in the investigation of offences, whether municipal or political, without scruple, and without question as to its legality.”

2. isim A weight of ¹⁄₂₈₈ of a pound, that is, twenty grains or one third of a dram, about 1.3 grams (symbol: ℈).

   “The Oyle ſerueth in many operations, and ſpecially in all colde diſeaſes, if they be inwardly, give thereof euerye morning one ſcruple to drinke, and if they be outward annoynt.”

3. isim A Hebrew unit of time equal to ¹⁄₁₀₈₀ hour.

   “If it be ask'd why the Jews divide the Hour into 1080 Scruples, the Author of the Neomeniæ ſet forth by Munſter gives this reaſon fo it, becauſe there is no number that is diviſible into ſo many ſorts as this of 1080 is; for it may be divided by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, &c.”

4. isim A very small quantity; a particle.

   “Why euery thing adheres togither, that no dramme of a ſcruple, no ſcruple of a ſcruple, no obſtacle, no incredulous or unſafe circumſtance: What can be ſaide? Nothing that can be, can come betweene me, and the full proſpect of my hopes.”

5. isim A doubt or uncertainty concerning a matter of fact; intellectual perplexity.

   “There aroſe a Scruple, nay, it amount to a Queſtion, whether to attempt an Eſcape from my Patron, one that ſo dearly Loved me, ſo fairly bought me, were juſtifiable before God and Men?”

6. fiil To hesitate or be reluctant to act due to considerations of conscience or expedience.

   “They wouldn't scruple to cheat us if given the opportunity.”

7. fiil To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple.
8. fiil To regard with suspicion; to question.
9. fiil To question the truth of (a fact, etc.); to doubt; to hesitate to believe, to question.

   “I do not scruple to admit that all the Earth seeth but only half of the Moon.”