compunction
11compunction — n. 1) to feel, have; show compunction 2) compunction about (she felt no compunction about making us wait) 3) without compunction (he violated the law without the slightest compunction) * * * [kəm pʌŋkʃ(ə)n] have show compunction about (she felt… …
12compunction — noun Etymology: Middle English compunccioun, from Anglo French compunction, from Late Latin compunction , compunctio, from Latin compungere to prick hard, sting, from com + pungere to prick more at pungent Date: 14th century 1. a. anxiety arising …
13compunction — com|punc|tion [kəmˈpʌŋkʃən] n [U usually in negatives] formal [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: componction, from Late Latin, from Latin compungere to sting , from com ( COM ) + pungere ( PUNGENT)] a feeling that you should not do something …
14compunction — [[t]kəmpʌ̱ŋkʃ(ə)n[/t]] N UNCOUNT (disapproval) If you say that someone has no compunction about doing something, you mean that they do it without feeling ashamed or guilty. Although tears well up, he has no compunction about relating how he… …
15compunction — n. (usu. with neg.) 1 the pricking of the conscience. 2 a slight regret; a scruple (without compunction; have no compunction in refusing him). Derivatives: compunctious adj. compunctiously adv. Etymology: ME f. OF componction f. eccl.L compunctio …
16compunction — compunctionless, adj. /keuhm pungk sheuhn/, n. 1. a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse. 2. any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action. [1350… …
17compunction — noun A pricking of conscience or a feeling of regret, especially one which is slight or fleeting. [H]e would have had no compunction whatever in flinging him out of the highest window in Venice into the deepest water of the city. Syn: regret,… …
18compunction — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. regret, remorse; scruple, twinge. See penitence, doubt. II (Roget s IV) n. 1. [A sense of guilt or remorse] Syn. remorse, contrition, shame; see regret 1 , repentance , shame 2 . 2. [A twinge of… …
19compunction — [14] Etymologically, to do something ‘without compunction’ means literally to do it without one’s conscience pricking. The word comes via Old French componction from late Latin compunctiō, a derivative of compungere ‘prick hard’, a compound verb… …
20compunction — noun she had no compunction about deceiving them Syn: scruples, misgivings, qualms, worries, unease, uneasiness, doubts, reluctance, reservations; guilt, regret, contrition, self reproach See note at qualms …