scrupulus

Pronunciation

• Classical: [ˈskruː.pʊ.ɫʊs]^[1]
• Ecclesiastical: [ˈskruː.pu.lus]^[1]

Forms

scrūpulus m (genitive scrūpulī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin scrūpus (“sharp stone”) + -ulus, a diminutive.^[2][3][1] De Vaan finds no etymology for the base noun.^[4] Lewis and Short treat the unit of weight scrīpulum as a neuter collateral form of it, written also with ⟨t⟩ through a supposed link with scrīptum (“something written”);^[3] de Vaan likewise ascribes its ⟨ī⟩, and the occasional ⟨t⟩, to the influence of that word.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Terence,^[4] in whose Andria a character says at mi unus scrupulus etiam restat qui me male habet, “but one small worry still remains that troubles me”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The literal sense, a small sharp stone, is recorded only late, in Solinus.^[3][5] In Classical Latin it is a source of unease or doubt: Terence and Cicero speak of putting a worry into someone's mind, scrupulum inicere, and Cicero of plucking one out, scrupulum ex animo evellere.^[5][6] Gellius uses it of the fine problems of philosophy, and Apuleius of an anxious precaution.^[2][6] As a measure it is the 288th part of a unit, in one inscription a fraction of an hour,^[2] and Lewis and Short give the 24th part of an ounce, a scruple.^[3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it is a scruple or anxiety,^[7] and in Medieval Latin a suspicion.^[8] Medieval writers in Britain use it of a small stone and of a small weight of gold or silver.^[9] English borrowed it in the late 14th century as scruple, both for a moral misgiving and for the small unit.^[10]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a lingering worry.^[2][11]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of plucking a worry from the mind.^[5][6][11]
• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of an anxious precaution.^[2][11]
• c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of philosophical problems.^[2][11]
• first half of the 3rd century AD – Solinus uses it of a small sharp stone.^[3][5][11]
• late 14th century – English borrows it as scruple.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. A small sharp stone.^[3][5][9]
2. A source of anxiety, a worry, doubt;^[2][5][6] scrūpulum inicere: to make someone uneasy.^[2][5][6]
3. A subtle difficulty, a fine point.^[2][6]
4. An anxious precaution.^[2][6]
5. The 288th part of a unit; the 24th part of an ounce, a scruple.^[2][3]
6. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A scruple, anxiety.^[7]
7. (Medieval Latin) A suspicion.^[8]

Word family

• scrūpulōsus
• scrūpulum

Related words

• scrūpeda
• scrūpeus
• scrūpōsus
• scrūpulōsē
• scrūpulōsitās
• scrūpus
• English scruple

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d e f g Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b c d e f g Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
11. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de