Also 4 compungcion, -puncion, -punccoun, -punctioun, 4–5 compunccioun, 4–6 compunccion(e, -ccyon(e, 5 compunxione, -pounctyon, 6 compuncyon, -punctyon. [a. OF. compunctiun, -on (12th c. in Littré, mod.F. componction), ad. L. compunctiōn-em (in Christian writers) sting of conscience, remorse, n. of action f. compungĕre.]
1. Pricking or stinging of the conscience or heart; regret or uneasiness of mind consequent on sin or wrong-doing; remorse, contrition.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xxxi. 4. Compunccioun for my synn is festid in my hert.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xcv. (1879), 425. Thou haste not compuncion for thy synnes.
1490. Caxton, How to Die, 17. Better it is that … he haue compunction and be saued.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 132 b. Teares of compunccion.
1629. Donne, Serm., Gen. i. 2. A remorse, and compunction for former sins.
1794. Godwin, Cal. Williams, 49. Blasted with the compunctions of guilt.
1830. Mackintosh, Eth. Philos., Wks. 1846, I. 67. There is no sense of duty, no compunction for our own offences.
1855. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Hist., x. 324. He has no compunctions of conscience, no remorseful remembrances.
b. In mod. use, often in weakened sense, denoting a slight or passing regret for wrong-doing, or a feeling of regret for some slight offense (sometimes including pity for the person wronged; cf. d); esp. in such phrases as without compunction.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 448, ¶ 3. I am left under the Compunction that I deserve, in so many different Places to be called a Trifler.
1720. Swift, Mod. Educ., Wks. 1755, II. II. 38. It is ever with reluctance and compunction of mind.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xii. With a degree of angry impatience, which soon turned into compunction, when he saw that she was almost … exhausted.
1857. Buckle, Civiliz., viii. 502. They quitted it [the Reformed Communion] without compunction.
1876. Black, Madcap V., xix. 178. ‘Well, I don’t exactly wish that,’ she said, with some compunction.
† c. In active sense: The faculty of pricking the conscience, or producing conviction of sin.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), VI. 143. A man Cedmon by name tauȝhte by God to make dites of compunccion [carmina compunctiva].
1605. Camden, Rem. (1636), 312. With his sweete verses full of compunction, he [Ceadmon] withdrew many from vice to vertue.
† d. A feeling of sorrow for the suffering of another; pity, compassion. Obs. exc. as in b.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. v. Whan heauen and erth with hye compunction Haue sygnes shewed of lamentation.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus iii. 6. He is the spirit of grace, compunction, and compassion.
1773. Mrs. Chapone, Improv. Mind (1774), I. 79. The emotions of tenderness and compunction which … every one feels in reading … the simple narrative of the evangelists.
[1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. vii. To walk off … with the precious stones and watch cases, [without] any compunction for the people who would lose the same.]
† 2. In physical sense: The action of pricking, or of producing a pricking sensation. Obs. rare.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Compunction, pricking.
1617. Markham, Caval., II. 93. A sharpe naile … with which they pricke the horse … Such compunctions and tortures will euen cause the best … horse to … plunge.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VI. xii. 335. That acide and piercing spirit which with such activity and compunction invadeth the braines and nostrills.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Compunction, a pricking or stitch; remorse of conscience.
