Scruple

Today's Word I Hate To Say is Scruple!

Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Scruple
scru·ple noun \ˈskrü-pəl\

Definition #1 of SCRUPLE (noun)
1:  a unit of capacity equal to 1⁄24 Apothecaries' ounce — see weight table
2:  a minute part or quantity :  iota

Origin of SCRUPLE
Middle English scrupil, scriple, from Anglo-French scruple, from Latin scrupulus a unit of weight, diminutive of scrupus sharp stone
First Known Use: 14th century

Definition #2 of SCRUPLE (noun)
1:  an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits action
2:  the quality or state of being scrupulous
3:  mental reservation

Origin of SCRUPLE
Middle English scripil, scrupill, from Anglo-French scruble, from Latin scrupulus, diminutive of scrupus source of uneasiness, literally, sharp stone
First Known Use: 15th century

Definition #3 of SCRUPLE (intransitive verb)
: to be unwilling to do something because you think it is improper, morally wrong, etc.
scru·pledscru·pling 
1:  to have scruples
2:  to show reluctance on grounds of conscience :  hesitate
First Known Use of SCRUPLE - 1627

WEIGHT AND MEASURES1
UNIT	ABBREVIATION OR SYMBOL
EQUIVALENTS IN OTHER UNITS OF SAME SYSTEM	METRIC EQUIVALENT
WEIGHT
Avoirdupois2
ton
short ton		20 short hundredweight, 2000 pounds	0.907 metric ton
long ton		20 long hundredweight, 2240 pounds	1.016 metric ton
hundredweight	cwt
short hundredweight		100 pounds, 0.05 short tons	45.359 kilograms
long hundredweight		112 pounds, 0.05 long ton	50.802 kilograms
pound	lb or lb avdp also #	16 ounces, 7000 grains	0.454 kilogram
ounce	oz or oz avdp	16 drams, 437.5 grains, 0.0625 pound	28.350 grams
dram	dr or dr avdp	27.344 grains, 0.0625 ounce	1.772 grams
grain	gr	0.037 dram, 0.002286 ounce	0.0648 gram
Troy
pound	lb t	12 ounces, 240 pennyweight, 5760 grains	0.373 kilogram
ounce	oz t	20 pennyweight, 480 grains, 0.083 pound	31.103 grams
pennyweight	dwt also pwt	24 grains, 0.05 ounce	1.555 grams
grain	gr	0.042 pennyweight, 0.002083 ounce	0.0648 gram
Apothecaries'
pound	lb ap	12 ounces, 5760 grains	0.373 kilogram
ounce	oz ap	8 drams, 480 grains, 0.083 pound	31.103 grams
dram	dr ap	3 scruples, 60 grains	3.888 grams
scruple	s ap	20 grains, 0.333 dram	1.296 grams
grain	gr	0.05 scruple, 0.002083 ounce, 0.0166 dram	0.0648 gram
CAPACITY
U.S. liquid measure
gallon	gal	4 quarts (231 cubic inches)	3.785 liters
quart	qt	2 pints (57.75 cubic inches)	0.946 liter
pint	pt	4 gills (28.875 cubic inches	473.176 milliliters
gill	gi	4 fluid ounces (7.219 cubic inches)	118.294 milliliters
fluid ounce	fl oz	8 fluid drams (1.805) cub inches)	29.573 milliliters
fluid dram	fl dr	60 minims (0.226 cubic inch)	3.697 milliliters
minim	min	1/60 fluid dram (0.003760 cubic inch)	0.061610 milliliter
U.S. dry measure
bushel	bu	4 pecks (2150.42 cubic inches)	35.239 liters
peck	pk	8 quarts (537.605 cubic inches)	8.810 liters
quart	qt	2 pints (67.201 cubic inches)	1.101 liters
pint	pt	½ quart (33.600 cubic inches)	0.551 liter
British imperial liquid and dry measure
bushel	bu	4 pecks (2219.36 cubic inches)	36.369 liters
peck	pk	2 gallons (554.84 cubic inches)	9.092 liters
gallon	gal	4 quarts (277.420 cubic inches)	4.546 liters
quart	qt	2 pints (69.355 cubic inches)	1.136 liters
pint	pt	4 gills (34.678 cubic inches)	568.26 milliliters
gill	gi	5 fluid ounces (8.669 cubic inches)	142.066 milliliters
fluid ounce	fl oz	8 fluid drams (1.7339 cubic inches)	28.412 milliliters
fluid dram	fl dr	60 minims (0.216734 cubic inch)	3.5516 milliliters
minim	min	1/60 fluid dram (0.003612 cubic inch)	0.059194 milliliter
LENGTH
mile	mi	5280 feet, 1760 yards, 320 rods	1.609 kilometers
rod	rd	5.50 yards, 16.5 feet	5.029 meters
yard	yd	3 feet, 36 inches	0.9144 meter
foot	ft or '	12 inches, 0.333 yard	30.48 centimeters
inch	in or "	0.083 foot, 0.028 yard	2.54 centimeters
AREA
square mile	sq mi or mi2	640 acres, 102,400 square rods	2.590 square kilometers
acre		4840 square yards, 43,560 square feet	0.405 hectare, 4047 square meters
square rod	sq rd or rd2	30.25 square yards, 0.00625 acre	25.293 square meters
square yard	sq yd or yd2	1296 square inches, 9 square feet	0.836 square meter
square foot	sq ft or ft2	144 square inches, 0.111 square yard	0.093 square meter
square inch	sq in or in2	0.0069 square foot, 0.00077 square yard	6.452 square centimeters
VOLUME
cubic yard	cu yd or yd3	27 cubic feet, 46,656 cubic inches	0.765 cubic meter
cubic foot	cu ft or ft3	1728 cubic inches, 0.0370 cubic yard	0.028 cubic meter
cubic inch	cu in or in3	0.00058 cubic foot, 0.000021 cubic yard	16.387 cubic centimeters

Ok, Ok... enough of the educational stuff for a minute and let's get to the point of why I hate to say this word!

Scruple, Scruples, Scrupulous, and any other variation of this word rubs me the wrong way.  It is likely the reason for my irritation has nothing to do with the first definition at all, but rather the implied meanings within the 2nd and 3rd definitions.

Maybe it is the "man" inside that wants to rise up to any challenge, or just the person who wants to be seen and ready for anything that dislikes this word.  The idea that someone would say I had no scruples would make me want to rise up to prove them wrong.  Something like - "Don't you talk about my momma," or "I know you didn't just say that" comes to mind.

For now, I would like to address the word scruple from definition #1 - (a unit of capacity equal to 1⁄24 Apothecaries' ounce).  It seems to me that if you compare a scruple to something like a mustard seed, you could develop a great parable like that of the Biblical story of Faith like a Mustard Seed.   Such a small thing is a mustard seed, yet with only a small amount of faith you can move mountains.  So, to put this into modern day perspective, having faith the size of a scruple, you can accomplish great things!

Well, there you go... a positive ending to a Word I Hate To Say!

References
Scruple. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved January 4, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scruple