GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  1.       

    Compunction , n. [OF. compunction, F. componction, L. compunctio, fr. compungere, compunctum, to prick; com- + pungere to prick, sting. See Pungent.]
    1. A pricking; stimulation. [Obs.]
      1913 Webster
      That acid and piercing spirit which, with such activity and compunction, invadeth the brains and nostrils.
      Sir T. Browne.

      1913 Webster
    2. A picking of heart; poignant grief proceeding from a sense of guilt or consciousness of causing pain; the sting of conscience.
      1913 Webster
      He acknowledged his disloyalty to the king, with expressions of great compunction.
      Clarendon.
      Syn. -- Compunction, Remorse, Contrition.  Remorse is anguish of soul under a sense of guilt or consciousness of having offended God or brought evil upon one's self or others. Compunction is the pain occasioned by a wounded and awakened conscience. Neither of them implies true contrition, which denotes self-condemnation, humiliation, and repentance. We speak of the gnawings of remorse; of compunction for a specific act of transgression; of deep contrition in view of our past lives. See Regret.
      1913 Webster

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