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SCRUPLES
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
Synonyms:
conscience; moral sense; scruples; sense of right and wrong
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("scruples" is a kind of...):
ethical motive; ethics; morality; morals (motivation based on ideas of right and wrong)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scruples"):
superego ((psychoanalysis) that part of the unconscious mind that acts as a conscience)
small voice; voice of conscience; wee small voice (an inner voice that judges your behavior)
sense of duty; sense of shame (a motivating awareness of ethical responsibility)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Present simple (third person singular) of the verb scruple
Context examples:
If I might venture to offer you a word of advice, said the affable official, it would be to make for the Hampshire line, for Sir James Ford, on the Surrey border, has as great an objection to such assemblies as I have, whilst Mr. Merridew, of Long Hall, who is the Hampshire magistrate, has fewer scruples upon the point.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“I can have no scruples now. Well, you will have opportunities enough of endeavouring to recommend yourself, for we are a great deal together.”
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
Trouble! aye, I know your scruples.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
They would not listen to scruples: he was obeyed; they were all beneath his roof; and while Louisa, under Mrs Harville's direction, was conveyed up stairs, and given possession of her own bed, assistance, cordials, restoratives were supplied by her husband to all who needed them.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
She remembered also that, till the Netherfield family had quitted the country, he had told his story to no one but herself; but that after their removal it had been everywhere discussed; that he had then no reserves, no scruples in sinking Mr. Darcy's character, though he had assured her that respect for the father would always prevent his exposing the son.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
But if my colleague of Hampshire has no scruples about its being brought off within his jurisdiction, I should very much like to see the fight, with which he spurred his horse up an adjacent knoll, from which he thought that he might gain the best view of the proceedings.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
His objections, the scruples of his integrity, seemed all done away, nobody could tell how; and the doubts and hesitations of her ambition were equally got over—and equally without apparent reason.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
But Harriet was less humble, had fewer scruples than formerly.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
Anne was now at hand to take up her own cause, and the sincerity of her manner being soon sufficient to convince him, where conviction was at least very agreeable, he had no farther scruples as to her being left to dine alone, though he still wanted her to join them in the evening, when the child might be at rest for the night, and kindly urged her to let him come and fetch her, but she was quite unpersuadable; and this being the case, she had ere long the pleasure of seeing them set off together in high spirits.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
As no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their aunt, and all Mr. Collins's scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing-room, that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation, and was then in the house.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
