Definition:Roman Weights and Measures/Mass/Scrupulus/Linguistic Note
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Linguistic Note on Scrupulus
The word scrupulus is the diminutive form of the Latin word scrupus, meaning sharp stone.
Its plural form is scrupuli.
The forms scrupulum, scripulum, scriptulum, scriplus and scriptulus can be found.
The word scriptulum is also associated with the lines on a draughtboard.
Its secondary meaning of anxiety, uneasiness, doubt, and so on, evolved into the present-day scruple, which can be interpreted to mean a concern about personal morality.