compunction etymology

Etymology

• Latin: compunctio
• Old French: componction
• Middle English: compuncioun

Meaning

A feeling of remorse or guilt for having done something wrong.

Origin

The word compunction comes from the Latin word compunctio, which means "a pricking or piercing." In the early Church, the term was used to describe the feeling of remorse that a penitent would experience after confessing their sins.

Over time, the meaning of the word compunction evolved to refer more generally to any feeling of guilt or remorse. It is now used in a wide range of contexts, including:

• The feeling of regret that someone feels after doing something wrong.
• The feeling of guilt that someone feels for not doing something that they should have done.
• The feeling of remorse that someone feels for causing someone else pain.

Examples

• I felt a twinge of compunction when I realized I had hurt her feelings.
• He experienced a deep compunction for his past mistakes.
• The jury was moved by the defendant's compunction and recommended a lighter sentence.

compunction relate terms

• compunctious

  Etymology Latin com with pungō to prick sting Middle English compunctuou

• compunction

  Etymology Latin compunctio Old French componction Middle English compuncioun Meanin

• appoint

  Etymology Middle English apointen from Anglo Norman French apointer from Latin appu

• appointment

  Etymology The word appointment comes from the Old French word apointement which mea

• bung

  Etymology The word bung has several possible etymological origins Middle English

• compunction

  Etymology Latin compunctio Old French componction Middle English compuncioun Meanin

• contrapuntal

  Etymology Contrapuntal is derived from the Italian term contrappunto which means po

• expugn

  Etymology Latin expugnare meaning to conquer by force From ex out pugnare

• expunge

  Etymology Latin expungere to strike out cancel erase From ex out from pungere

• impugn

  Etymology Latin impugnare to attack assail Latin in in against pugnare t

• interpunction

  Etymology Derived from Latin inter between among punctus point Meaning

• oppugn

  Etymology Latin oppugnare to fight against attack From ob against pugnare

• pink

  Etymology The word pink comes from the Middle English word pinke which in turn deri

• poignant

  Etymology Middle English poynaunt from Old French poignant meaning pricking sharp

• point

  Etymology The word point comes from the Latin word punctum which means a prick a d

• pointe

  Etymology French pointe meaning point Meaning A sharp narrow end or extremit

• pointillism

  Etymology French pointillisme Derived from pointiller meaning to stipple or to ma

• poniard

  Etymology The word poniard comes from the Old French word poignard which in turn is

• pounce

  Etymology pounce v Middle English from Old French poncer puncer from Latin pungere

• pugilism

  Etymology Latin pugil boxer Greek pux fist Meaning The sport of fighting

• pugilist

  Etymology The word pugilist originates from the Latin word pugil meaning a boxer

• pugnacious

  Pugnacious Etymology From Latin pugnāx pugnacious from pugnāre to fight Ult

• pugnacity

  Etymology Pugnacity comes from the Latin word pugnare which means to fight Mean

• Punch

  Etymology The word punch has several origins Old Irish bun a drink Anglo India

• Punch

  Etymology The word punch has several origins Old Irish bun a drink Anglo India

• Punch

  Etymology The word punch has several origins Old Irish bun a drink Anglo India

• puncheon

  Etymology The word puncheon is derived from the Latin word punctio meaning a punctu

• punctilio

  Punctilio Etymology The word punctilio comes from the Latin word punctum which mean

• punctilious

  Etymology The word punctilious derives from Latin punctum meaning point French

• punctual

  Etymology The word punctual derives from the Latin word punctum meaning point M

• punctuate

  Etymology punctuate verb Middle English from Medieval Latin punctuat from Latin p

• punctuation

  Etymology The word punctuation originates from the Latin verb pungere which means t

• puncture

  Etymology The word puncture is derived from the Latin word pungere which means to

• pungent

  Etymology The word pungent comes from the Latin word pungens meaning piercing or

• punty

  Etymology Middle English puncte from Old French poincte Latin punctum meaning poi

• pygmy

  Etymology The word pygmy derives from the Ancient Greek word πυγμαῖος pygma

• repugn

  Etymology From Latin repugnare meaning to resist fight against oppose Ultimatel

• repugnance

  Etymology Late Middle English from Old French repugnance from Latin repugnantia from

• repugnant

  Etymology Latin repugnare to fight against from repugnans present participle of re

• remorse

  Etymology Old French remors remord Latin remorsus from remordeo to bite back Pr

• penance

  Etymology From Old French penance from Latin paenitentia from poenitere to repent r

• sorrow

  Etymology The word sorrow comes from the Old English word sorg which in turn derives

• repentance

  Etymology The word repentance comes from the Latin word poenitentia which itself or

• penitence

  Etymology Old French penitance Latin paenitentia Proto Indo European pƏnkʷ to p

• regret

  Etymology Old French regretter Late Latin regretari meaning to murmur complain Po

• guilt

  Etymology Old English gylt crime sin Proto Germanic gultiz debt guilt Proto Indo

• carpenter

  Etymology The word carpenter comes from the Old French word carpentier which in turn