#scrabble words

Todays word of the day is: Quandary

[ skroo-puhl ]

noun

1. a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions

2. a very small portion or amount

3. (archaic) a unit of weight used by apothecaries, equal to 20 grains (1.295 grams) or 1/3 of a dram

4. (archaic) an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to 1/24 of an ounce or 1/288 of a pound

verb

5. to hesitate or be reluctant to do something due to a moral or ethical quandary

synonyms

(def. 1)

quandry

qualm

doubt

hesitation

(def. 5)

falter

doubt

fret

waver

vacillate

demur

origin

1350–1400; late Middle English: from French scrupule or Latin scrupulus from scrupus, meaning rough pebble; anxiety

example (def. 5)

He doesn't scruple to ask his parents for money.

related forms