n. 1. A strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt: stole the money without compunction. See Synonyms at penitence. 2. A sting of conscience or a pang of doubt aroused by wrongdoing or the prospect of wrongdoing: "commercial speculators and hired politicians who had no compunction about pillaging their country for personal gain" (Leo Damrosch). [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 the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] com·punctious (-shəs) adj. com·punctious·ly adv. |
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