Middle English Dictionary Entry
scrūpul n.
Entry Info
| Forms | scrūpul n. Also scrupil, scrupal, scruple, scropule, scrupulus & scripul(e, scripil(le, scripile, scripel, scriple & scrapale; pl. scrupules, etc. & scrupulus, scri-, scra-. |
| Etymology | L scrūpulus, scrūpulum & scrīpulum & OF scrupel & OF scrupule, AF scruple. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A unit of apothecary's weight of one twenty-fourth of an ounce; ~ weght; (b) used to denote a small unit of ancient Hebrew weight, equal to one tenth of a shekel; (c) a moral misgiving, pang of conscience; perplexity of mind, doubt; ~ of herte.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)196b/a : If þou dost þer on a scrupil of gold, it rauyschiþ in to it silf þe lightnesse þer of.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)333a/a : Scrupulus weieþ sixe huoles, and hatte dragma in gru, and þis name scrupulus is dymynutyf of scrupus, þat is, a lytel stoon; dragma is þe eighteþe part of an vncia and weyeþ þre pans of siluer Scrupulus, þat is, eightene huoles.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)333a/b : Vncia..weyeþ eighte dragmes, þat is, foure and twenty scrupules, þat is y-take for laweful weighte, for by þe nombre of the Scruples [L scrupulorum] þerof þe nombre of houres of day & night ben acounted for.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)134b/a : Tak..wexe two ounce, opium a scripille..apium a scripel, þe barke of mandragge halfe a dramme.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)142a/a : Þou schalt put a scripil of opium and ij scripilles of henbane and a scripile of smalleache sede & iij scripilles of vineger.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)199a : A scripule weyeþ a peny; þre scripules beþ a dragme.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)138/30 : Take..of saffron..a scruple.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.418 : Putte theryn A scriple [L scrupulum] of foyl and half a scriple of fyn Saffron.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)169 : Plinius forbediþ for to take or ȝeue more þan at þe moste iv scrupulus. Obulus and scripulus ben alle on weyȝt.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)200 : xxti whete cornes ben a scrapale weyȝt; iii scrapulus maken a dragme.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)26/32 : Take the sede of apium a scripull, þett is to say, a peny weght, of henbane and of the levys of henbane and of the sed of avance ij scripuls, and grynd it small.
- a1500 Sln.2584 Med.Miscell.(Sln 2584)131/22 : Take xx wheete cornes and þei weien a scrupil.
- a1500 Weights in RHS ser.3.41 (Add 30338)35 : A scripule ys the thridde part of a dragme.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.30.13 : A sycle, þat is, anounce, haþ twenty half scripells [WB(2): halpens; L obolos].
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 25.31 : Whanne þanne þe lord schal do to þee..alle þese goode thyngis..þis schal not ben to þee, my lord, in to ȝoxsynge & in to scripil [WB(2): doute; L scrupulum] of herte þat þou hast schad giltelees blood.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.201 : Him wantiþ not scripul of privy felowship, þat leeveþ to blame an open synne.
- (1433) RParl.4.432a : To thentente to putte the said Lordes and Comunes..oute of all scrupill and doute therin, [etc.].
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)360 : For vnknowing of þi lawe..þei live al her lives in scrupal and in feere of consciens.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)9915 : A certeyn porcyoun assygnyd he Wherby wyth-owte scrupyl of conscyence She & hyr maydyns myht foundyn be.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)167/33 : She..by reuelacyone of god, certifyed wiþ-outen any scrupul of doute.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)2.190 (v.1:p.17) : We shul nat be togider but we shul be so many that no scruple of suspecion shal mowe be gendrid of ws in no wise.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.67rb : Whan our lord god hath .. constitued the duke [L (Vulg.1 Sam.25.30): constituerit te ducem] vpon Israhel, late this not be in thy thought ne scropule in thy herte, þat thou sholdest shede blood not gylty.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)18/13 : This holy apostoll preuet so oure fay þat he lafte no scrypull yn no parte þeryn.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)41/20 : I haue a scripyl vpon the divine iustice forasmoche as it punyschithe the iuste and trwe men with the synners.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)121/11 : Leve thou to God His stable abiding withowt scrupules [vr. scripules] or doubtes.