A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Scrupulositie, -é, -y, n. Also: scrupolositie, scroupolosity, scripolisite. [e.m.E. scrupulosite (1526), F. scrupulosité (14th c.), L. scrūpulōsitāt-, f. scrūpulōs-; Scrupul(o)us adj.]
1. Doubt, hesitation (in matters of conscience).a1538 Abell 108a.
That thow ma stand sewir in the consciens to follo … gude kirk men … & depone all scripolisite at drawis thé to the contra part c1610 Melville Mem. 30.
For to tak away all kind of scrupulosite from the kingis conscience, … he the said cardinall … wald geue him full absolution
2. The meticulousness or sensitivity of (a person's) conscience.a1538 Abell 110a.
Paip Felice wilfullie for the … scripulosite of his conscience gaif place to Nycholay
3. Meticulousness or narrowness in the interpretation of (chiefly, religious) law, practice or procedure; an over great attachment to rules or traditions for their own sake; passing into, superstition. b. An instance of this.1562-3 Winȝet I 89/14.
Sua can we nocht vnderstand ȝour scrupulositie and wane ceremonie … that ane … man haueand na wthir impediment bot wantand cumpanie … may nocht resaue that sacrament him allane a1578 Pitsc. I 48/14.
The pepill, movet witht scrupulositie because it was the wse that … said that sic ane marieage could never be prosperous 1597 Warrender P. (SHS) II 333.
Yit the scrupolositie of the ignorant seymen will stur to receave ane Jesuit in thair schippis without ane large privilege that thay be nocht damnifeit therbe 1687 Lauder Notices Affairs II 775.
Sir George Lockhart declared he could not act till he took the Test according to law … but this scrupulosity displeased the Chancelor 1693 Cramond Kirk S. III 17 April.
Mr. John produces now a written commission to satisfie the scrupulosity of Robert Carstairs who doubted and denyed the said Mr. John Hamilton to have any, … so alleadging the illegality of that sessionb. 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv 308.
All those needless scroupolosities did proceed from [etc.] 1697 Fountainhall Decis. I 795.
But the lawyers shew this was a nice scrupulosity of that law
