Compunction



GRE 蓝宝 Barron

解释

GRE 红宝书

• n. 懊悔, 良心不安
• ［英］ n. 懊悔, 良心不安 ( a sense of guilt; remorse; penitence; qualm)
• ［记］ com＋punct ( 刺) ＋ion -> ( 心) 不断被刺 -> 良心不安;
• ［同］ 同根词: punctual ( 准时的) ; acupuncture ( 针灸)

Webster Collegiate

noun

• Etymology: Middle English compunccioun, from Anglo-French compunction, from Late Latin compunction-, compunctio, from Latin compungere to prick hard, sting, from com- + pungere to prick — more at pungent
• Date: 14th century
• 1.
  • a. anxiety arising from awareness of guilt <compunctions of conscience
  • b. distress of mind over an anticipated action or result <showed no compunction in planning devilish engines of…destruction — Havelock Ellis
• 2. a twinge of misgiving ; scruple <cheated without compunction
• Synonyms: see penitence, qualm
• ? compunctious adjective

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