The Collaborative International Dictionary
Compunctious \Com*punc"tious\, a. Of the nature of compunction; caused by conscience; attended with, or causing, compunction.
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose.
--Shak.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
c.1600, from stem of compunction + -ous. Related: Compunctiously; compunctiousness.
Wiktionary
a. Exhibiting compunctions, scruples, feelings of guilt. alt. Exhibiting compunctions, scruples, feelings of guilt.
Usage examples of "compunctious".
And curious were her feelings--light-hearted, compunctious, as of one who escapes yet knows she will soon be seeking to return.
When, after one of those embraces, his mouth curled with a little bitter smile, as if to say, "Yes, much you care for me," she would feel compunctious and yet aggrieved.
But now Macbeth, at first the more compunctious of the two, has become the more ruthless.
But now Macbeth, at first the more compunctious of the two, has become the more ruthless.
Wet-eyes, good and true soul, was afraid that he had not qualified himself enough by compunctious reading and self-recollection.
Who can look down upon the grave even of an enemy, and not feel a compunctious throb that he should ever have warred with the poor handful of earth that lies mouldering before him?