Scrupulousness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The characteristic of being diligent and precise in ethical considerations denotes a rigorous commitment to moral integrity
2. An attribute defined by thorough attention to ethical details signifies a conscientious moral perspective
3. The quality of showing great care and honesty in doing what is morally right

Etymology: Scrupulousness is about as plain a formation as English offers: the adjective "scrupulous" with the suffix "-ness" attached, turning a quality into a noun. The adjective is the interesting part. It comes from the Latin "scrupulosus," built on "scrupulus," a small sharp stone, and that stone was the literal image behind the word. Roman writers used "scrupulus" for a pebble that got into a shoe and made every step uncomfortable, and from there it came to mean a small doubt or unease that nags at the conscience. That shift is the heart of the word. Someone "scrupulous" in the older sense was not simply careful but bothered by a pebble in the shoe of their conduct, hesitating over whether an act was right. The meaning moved from physical discomfort to moral anxiety, and then, over time, toward the more settled sense of careful adherence to principle that the noun now expresses.

Synonyms: meticulousness, diligence, honesty

Antonyms: negligence, carelessness