Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SCRU'PU-LOUS, a. [L. scrupulosus; Fr. scrupuleux.]

1. Nicely doubtful; hesitating to determine or to act; cautious in decision from a fear of offending or doing wrong. Bo careful in moral conduct, not to offend scrupulous brethren.
2. Given to making objections; captious. Equality of two domestic pow'rs / Breeds scrupulous faction. – Shak.
3. Nice; doubtful. The justice of that cause ought to be evident; not obscure, not scrupulous. [Not in use.] – Bacon.
4. Careful; cautious; exact in regarding facts. Woodward.
5. Nice; exact; as, a scrupulous abstinence from labor. – Paley.