Search This Blog

Saturday, January 4, 2014

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
UNITABBREVIATION
OR SYMBOL
EQUIVALENTS IN OTHER
UNITS OF SAME SYSTEM
METRIC EQUIVALENT
WEIGHT
Avoirdupois2
ton
short ton
20 short hundredweight, 2000 pounds0.907 metric ton
long ton
20 long hundredweight, 2240 pounds1.016 metric ton
hundredweightcwt
short hundredweight100 pounds, 0.05 short tons45.359 kilograms
long hundredweight112 pounds, 0.05 long ton50.802 kilograms
poundlb or lb avdp
also #
16 ounces, 7000 grains0.454 kilogram
ounceoz or oz avdp16 drams, 437.5 grains, 0.0625 pound28.350 grams
dramdr or dr avdp27.344 grains, 0.0625 ounce1.772 grams
graingr0.037 dram, 0.002286 ounce0.0648 gram
Troy
poundlb t12 ounces, 240 pennyweight, 5760 grains0.373 kilogram
ounceoz t20 pennyweight, 480 grains, 0.083 pound31.103 grams
pennyweightdwt also pwt24 grains, 0.05 ounce1.555 grams
graingr0.042 pennyweight, 0.002083 ounce0.0648 gram
Apothecaries'
poundlb ap12 ounces, 5760 grains0.373 kilogram
ounceoz ap8 drams, 480 grains, 0.083 pound31.103 grams
dramdr ap3 scruples, 60 grains3.888 grams
scruples ap20 grains, 0.333 dram1.296 grams
graingr0.05 scruple, 0.002083 ounce, 0.0166 dram0.0648 gram
CAPACITY
U.S. liquid measure
gallongal4 quarts (231 cubic inches)3.785 liters
quartqt2 pints (57.75 cubic inches)0.946 liter
pintpt4 gills (28.875 cubic inches473.176 milliliters
gillgi4 fluid ounces (7.219 cubic inches)118.294 milliliters
fluid ouncefl oz8 fluid drams (1.805) cub inches)29.573 milliliters
fluid dramfl dr60 minims (0.226 cubic inch)3.697 milliliters
minimmin1/60 fluid dram (0.003760 cubic inch)0.061610 milliliter
U.S. dry measure
bushelbu4 pecks (2150.42 cubic inches)35.239 liters
peckpk8 quarts (537.605 cubic inches)8.810 liters
quartqt2 pints (67.201 cubic inches)1.101 liters
pintpt½ quart (33.600 cubic inches)0.551 liter
British imperial liquid and dry measure
bushelbu4 pecks (2219.36 cubic inches)36.369 liters
peckpk2 gallons (554.84 cubic inches)9.092 liters
gallongal4 quarts (277.420 cubic inches)4.546 liters
quartqt2 pints (69.355 cubic inches)1.136 liters
pintpt4 gills (34.678 cubic inches)568.26 milliliters
gillgi5 fluid ounces (8.669 cubic inches)142.066 milliliters
fluid ouncefl oz8 fluid drams (1.7339 cubic inches)28.412 milliliters
fluid dramfl dr60 minims (0.216734 cubic inch)3.5516 milliliters
minimmin1/60 fluid dram (0.003612 cubic inch)0.059194 milliliter
LENGTH
milemi5280 feet, 1760 yards, 320 rods1.609 kilometers
rodrd5.50 yards, 16.5 feet5.029 meters
yardyd3 feet, 36 inches0.9144 meter
footft or '12 inches, 0.333 yard30.48 centimeters
inchin or "0.083 foot, 0.028 yard2.54 centimeters
AREA
square milesq mi or mi2640 acres, 102,400 square rods2.590 square kilometers
acre4840 square yards, 43,560 square feet0.405 hectare, 4047 square meters
square rodsq rd or rd230.25 square yards, 0.00625 acre25.293 square meters
square yardsq yd or yd21296 square inches, 9 square feet0.836 square meter
square footsq ft or ft2144 square inches, 0.111 square yard0.093 square meter
square inchsq in or in20.0069 square foot, 0.00077 square yard6.452 square centimeters
VOLUME
cubic yardcu yd or yd327 cubic feet, 46,656 cubic inches0.765 cubic meter
cubic footcu ft or ft31728 cubic inches, 0.0370 cubic yard0.028 cubic meter
cubic inchcu in or in30.00058 cubic foot, 0.000021 cubic yard16.387 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

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for adding to Words I Hate To Say. I appreciate your comments and for visiting!