Compunction
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ʌŋkʃən
Origin
From Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin, compunctionem ("a pricking"), from Latin compunctus, the past participle of compungere ("to severely prick"), from com- + pungere ("to prick").
Full definition of compunction
Noun
compunction
(plural compunctions)- A pricking of conscience or a feeling of regret, especially one which is slight or fleeting.
- Dickens Little Dorrit|2|6:He would have had no compunction whatever in flinging him out of the highest window in Venice into the deepest water of the city.
- 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, ch. 3:I felt no compunction in doing so, for under the circumstances I felt that I should protect myself in every way I could.
- 1920, D. H. Lawrence, Women in Love, ch. 8:But he felt, later, a little compunction. He had been violent, cruel with poor Hermione. He wanted to recompense her, to make it up.
- 2003 February 16, Blaine Greteman, "No Peace Dividend," Time:As for average U.S. consumers, they've shown little compunction about buying diamonds that fund bloody militias in Africa.