Lewis & Short

scrūpŭlus (scrīŭplum, etc., v. infra, B.), i, m. dim. [scrupus].

  1. * I. Lit., a small sharp or pointed stone: ater scrupulus, Sol. 7.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. T. t., the smallest division of weight (the 24th part of an ounce), a scruple; in this sense the neutr. collat. form scrīpŭlum (less commonly scrū-pŭlum; also written, because of a fancied derivation from scriptum, scriptŭlum, scriptlum) is most freq.: scriptulum, quod nunc vulgo sine t dicunt, Varro ap. Plautin. dixit. Idem tertio Annali. Is (nummus argenteus) quattuor scriptulis major fuit quam nunc est, Charis. p. 81: si ibi auri scrupulum imponatur, etc., Vitr. 7, 8 med.: scripula octo, Col. 12, 28, 1: picis sex scripula, id. 12, 23, 2; Cic. Att. 4, 16, 13: quinque marathri scrupula, Ov. Med. Fac. 92: scripulum nostri dixere priores, Rhem. Fan. Pond. 8 sq.: ita ut scripulum valeret sestertiis vicenis, Plin. 33, 3, 13, § 47: scrupulum, Val. Max. 4, 4, 9: scriptula, Mart. 4, 89, 3; 10, 55, 3.
      2. 2. Of other measures.
        1. a. The twenty-fourth part of an uncia of land (the 288th part of a jugerum), Varr. R. R. 1, 10, 2; Col. 5, 1, 8.
        2. b. The twenty-fourth part of an hour: QVAE HIC DORMIT VIXIT ANN. XXI. MENS. III. HOR. IV. SCRVPVLOS VI., Inscr. Fabr. p. 97, 219 (ap. Orell. 4718, n. 1); M. Aur. ap. Front. Ep. ad Caes. 2, 9.
        3. c. Of any other very small measure, Front. Aquaed. 26; Plin. 2, 10, 7, § 48.
  2. II. Trop., a pricking, stinging, uneasy sensation; hence,
      1. 1. Uneasiness, difficulty, trouble, anxiety, doubt, scruple (class.): hunc sibi ex animo scrupulum, qui se dies noctesque stimulat ac pungit, ut evellatis postulat, Cic. Rosc. Am. 2, 6: sui scripulus tenuissimus residere aliquis videbitur, id. Har. Resp. 5, 11: mihi unus scrupulus restat, Ter. And. 5, 4, 37: qui fuit in re hac scrupulus, id. Phorm. 5, 8, 30: injeci scrupulum homini, id. Ad. 2, 2, 20; id. Phorm. 5, 7, 61; cf.: nummi potius addantur quam ullus sit scrupulus, Cic. Att. 2, 4, 1; App. M. 1, p. 107, 5; cf.: hic tum injectus est hominibus scrupulus et quaedam dubitatio, quidnam esset actum, Cic. Clu. 28, 76; Suet. Claud. 37: exime hunc mihi scrupulum, cui par esse non possum, Plin. Ep. 3, 17, 2; cf. id. ib. 6, 8, 7: omnis surculus … sine scrupulo egregie inseritur, without scruple, without hesitation, Col. 5, 11, 1; Vulg. 1 Reg. 25, 31: scrupulus non mediocris me carpebat, App. M. 6, p. 184, 11.
        With gen.: domesticarum sollicitudinum aculeos omnes et scrupulos occultabo, Cic. Att. 1, 18, 2: reus scrupulo quaestionis liberatur, App. Mag. p. 305 med.
      2. 2. A painfully minute examination, a subtlety, Gell. 5, 15, 9.