Scruple-shop
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A place where religious matters are debated, particularly with the aim of relieving participants of their scruples of conscience. obsolete
"The cure for diseased consciences is not to be found in a “scruple shop,” but in the love and care of the great Physician."
Example
More examples"The cure for diseased consciences is not to be found in a “scruple shop,” but in the love and care of the great Physician."
Etymology
Compound of scruple + shop. Originally applied derogatorily by Oxford students to a particular group of seven Presbyterian ministers who established weekly meetings to discuss questions of conscience in Oxford in 1646.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.