SCRUNCH
Scrunch, v. t. & v. i. Etym: [Cf. Scranch, Crunch.]
Defn: To scranch; to crunch. Dickens.
SCRUPLE Scru"ple, n. Etym: [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. 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.
SCRUPLE
Scru"ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scrupled; p. pr. & vb. n. Skrupling.]
Defn: 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.
SCRUPLE
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.