Webster's English Dictionary

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compunction

Cross references:
  1. penitence              2. qualm                 
 
com.punc.tion \k*m-'pen(k)-sh*n\ \-sh*s\ n [ME compunccioun, fr. MF 
   componction, fr. LL compunction-, Xcompunctio, fr. L compunctus, pp. of 
   compungere to prick hard, sting, fr. com- + pungere to prick 1: anxiety 
   arising from guilt : REMORSE  2: an uneasy twinge  - com.punc.tious aj