qualm English · revision 1099

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kwɑːm/, /kwɔːm/ ''(UK)''; /kwɑ(l)m/, /kwɔ(l)m/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is unknown.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is possibly the same word as Middle English ''qualm'' “pestilence, plague”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from Old English ''cwealm'' “death, slaughter, plague”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) related to ''cwellan'' “to kill” and so to [[quell]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) Etymonline notes that a direct path between the senses is not proven,^(Etymonline) and mentions another suggestion, Dutch ''kwalm'' “steam, vapour”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A sudden feeling of faintness or sickness, especially nausea (about 1530).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense, a fit of uneasiness, doubt or fear, is recorded before 1555,^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and that of a scruple of conscience from 1649.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The old sense “plague, death” became rare after about 1400.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 899 – Old English ''cwealm'', death, plague.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1530 – a fit of faintness or sickness.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1555 – a fit of misgiving.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1649 – a scruple of conscience.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An uneasy feeling about whether an action is right or proper; a [[scruple]] or pang of conscience.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A sudden disturbing feeling, such as doubt or fear; a [[misgiving]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A sudden feeling of sickness, faintness or [[nausea]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[qualmish]]

+ * [[qualmishly]]

+ * [[qualmy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quell]]

+ * [[queasy]]

+ * [[scruple]]

+ * [[compunction]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary distinguishes ''qualm'', a disturbing, often queasy uneasiness, from ''scruple'', unease arising from conscience or principle, and also compares ''compunction'' and ''misgiving''.^(AHD) Merriam-Webster adds ''demur''.^(MW Collegiate) Wiktionary notes that in the moral sense the plural ''qualms'' is more common.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}