This contribution threatening to fall infinitely short of their hopes, they soon made it compulsory.
Burke.
Com*punct" (?), a. [LL. compunctus, p. p.] Affected with compunction; conscience-stricken. [Obs.]
Com*punc"tion (?), n. [OF. compunction, F. componction, L. compunctio, fr. compungere, compunctum, to prick; com- + pungere to prick, sting. See Pungent.] 1. A pricking; stimulation. [Obs.]
That acid and piercing spirit which, with such activity and compunction, invadeth the brains and nostrils.
Sir T. Browne.
2. A picking of heart; poignant grief proceeding from a sense of guilt or consciousness of causing pain; the sting of conscience.
He acknowledged his disloyalty to the king, with expressions of great compunction.
Clarendon.
Syn. -- Compunction, Remorse, Contrition. Remorse is anguish of soul under a sense of guilt or consciousness of having offended God or brought evil upon one's self or others. Compunction is the pain occasioned by a wounded and awakened conscience. Neither of them implies true contrition, which denotes self-condemnation, humiliation, and repentance. We speak of the gnawings of remorse; of compunction for a specific act of transgression; of deep contrition in view of our past lives. See Regret.
Com*punc"tion*less, a. Without compunction.
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.
Com*punc"tious*ly, adv. With compunction.
Com*punc"tive (?), a. Sensitive in respect of wrongdoing; conscientious. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
Com`pur*ga"tion (?), n. [L. compurgatio, fr. compurgare to purify wholly; com- + purgare to make pure. See Purge, v. t.] 1. (Law) The act or practice of justifying or confirming a man's veracity by the oath of others; -- called also wager of law. See Purgation; also Wager of law, under Wager.