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compunctious

 - 2 dictionary results

com⋅punc⋅tious

  [kuhm-puhngk-shuhs]
Use compunctious in a Sentence
–adjective
causing or feeling compunction; regretful.
Origin:
1595–1605; compunct(ion) + -ious

Related forms:
com⋅punc⋅tious⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To compunctious
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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