compunction

The story

1. Latin · derived fromcompunctus
2. Late Latin · derived fromcompunctionem“a pricking”
3. Old French · derived fromcompunction
4. Middle English · inherited fromcompunccion
5. English todaycompunction

From Middle English compunccion, borrowed from Old French compunction, from Late Latin compunctionem (“a pricking”), from Latin compunctus, the past participle of compungere (“to severely prick”), from com- + pungere (“to prick”).

Words from the same roots