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compunction

 - 3 dictionary results

com⋅punc⋅tion

  [kuhm-puhngk-shuhn]
Use compunction in a Sentence
–noun
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.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME compunccion (< AF) < LL compūnctiōn- (s. of compūnctiō), equiv. to L compūnct(us), ptp. of compungere to prick severely (com- com- + pungere to prick; cf. point ) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
com⋅punc⋅tion⋅less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To compunction
com·punc·tion   (kəm-pŭngk'shən)   
n.  

  1. A strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt. See Synonyms at penitence.

  2. A sting of conscience or a pang of doubt aroused by wrongdoing or the prospect of wrongdoing. See Synonyms at qualm.


[Middle English compunccioun, from Old French componction, from Late Latin compūnctiō, compūnctiōn-, puncture, sting of conscience, from Latin compūnctus, past participle of compungere, to sting : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + pungere, to prick; see peuk- in Indo-European roots.]
com·punc'tious (-shəs) adj., com·punc'tious·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

compunction 
c.1340, from O.Fr. compunction (12c.), from L.L. compunctionem (nom. compunctio) "a pricking" (of conscience), from L. compunctus, pp. of compungere "to severely prick, sting," from com- intensive prefix + pungere "to prick." Used in fig. sense by early Church writers. Originally a much more intense feeling, similar to "remorse," or "contrition."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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