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Webster 1913 Edition

Conscience

Con′science

,
Noun.
[F.
conscience
, fr. L.
conscientia
, fr. consciens, p. pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious;
con-
+
scire
to know. See
Science
.]
1.
Knowledge of one’s own thoughts or actions; consciousness.
[Obs.]
The sweetest cordial we receive, at last,
Is
conscience
of our virtuous actions past.
Denham.
2.
The faculty, power, or inward principle which decides as to the character of one's own actions, purposes, and affections, warning against and condemning that which is wrong, and approving and prompting to that which is right; the moral faculty passing judgment on one's self; the moral sense.
My
conscience
hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.
Shakespeare
As
science
means
knowledge
,
conscience
etymologically means
self-knowledge
. . . But the English word implies a moral standard of action in the mind as well as a consciousness of our own actions. . . .
Conscience
is the reason, employed about questions of right and wrong, and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and condemnation.
Whewell.
3.
The estimate or determination of conscience; conviction or right or duty.
Conscience
supposes the existence of some such [i.e., moral] faculty, and properly signifies our consciousness of having acted agreeably or contrary to its directions.
Adam Smith.
4.
Tenderness of feeling; pity.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
Conscience clause
,
a clause in a general law exempting persons whose religious scruples forbid compliance therewith, – as from taking judicial oaths, rendering military service, etc.
–
Conscience money
,
stolen or wrongfully acquired money that is voluntarily restored to the rightful possessor. Such money paid into the United States treasury by unknown debtors is called the Conscience fund.
–
Court of Conscience
,
a court established for the recovery of small debts, in London and other trading cities and districts.
[Eng.]
Blackstone.
–
In conscience
,
In all conscience
,
in deference or obedience to conscience or reason; in reason; reasonably.
“This is enough in conscience.”
Howell.
“Half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, as many as you should require.”
Swift.
–
To make conscience of
,
To make a matter of conscience
,
to act according to the dictates of conscience concerning (any matter), or to scruple to act contrary to its dictates.

Webster 1828 Edition

Conscience

CONSCIENCE

,
Noun.
[L., to know, to be privy to.]
1.
Internal or self-knowledge, or judgment of right and wrong; or the faculty, power or principle within us, which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our own actions and affections, and instantly approves or condemns them. Conscience is called by some writers the moral sense, and considered as an original faculty of our nature. Others question the propriety of considering conscience as a distinct faculty or principle. The consider it rather as the general principle of moral approbation or disapprobation, applied to ones own conduct and affections; alledging that our notions of right and wrong are not to be deduced from a single principle or faculty, but from various powers of the understanding and will.
Being convicted by their own conscience, they went out one by one. John 8.
The conscience manifests itself in the feeling of obligation we experience, which precedes, attends and follows our actions.
Conscience is first occupied in ascertaining our duty, before we proceed to action; then in judging of our actions when performed.
2.
The estimate or determination of conscience; justice; honesty.
What you require cannot, in conscience, be deferred.
3.
Real sentiment; private thought; truth; as, do you in conscience believe the story?
4.
Consciousness; knowledge of our own actions or thought.
The sweetest cordial we receive at last, is conscience of our virtuous actions past.
[This primary sense of the word is nearly, perhaps wholly obsolete.]
5.
Knowledge of the actions of others.
6.
In ludicrous language, reason or reasonableness.
Half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, as many as you should require.
To make conscience or a matter of conscience, is to act according to the dictates of conscience, or to scruple to act contrary to its dictates.
Court of conscience, a court established for the recovery of small debts in London and other trading cities and districts.

Definition 2024

conscience

conscience

English

Noun

conscience ‎(countable and uncountable, plural consciences)

  1. The moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects one's own behaviour.
    • 1949, Albert Einstein, as quoted by Virgil Henshaw in Albert Einstein: Philosopher Scientist,
      Never do anything against conscience, even if the state demands it.
    • 1951, Isaac Asimov, Foundation (1974 Panther Books Ltd publication), part V: “The Merchant Princes”, chapter 14, page 175, ¶ 7
      [“]Twer is not a friend of mine testifying against me reluctantly and for conscience’ sake, as the prosecution would have you believe. He is a spy, performing his paid job.[”]
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 18, in The China Governess:
      ‘Then the father has a great fight with his terrible conscience,’ said Munday with granite seriousness. ‘Should he make a row with the police […]? Or should he say nothing about it and condone brutality for fear of appearing in the newspapers?
  2. (chiefly fiction) A personification of the moral sense of right and wrong, usually in the form of a person, a being or merely a voice that gives moral lessons and advices.
  3. (obsolete) Consciousness; thinking; awareness, especially self-awareness.
    • 1603, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, act 3, scene 1,
      Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
      And thus the native hue of resolution
      Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought.

Usage notes

  • Adjectives often used with "conscience": good, bad, guilty.
  • Phrases: To make conscience of, To make a matter of conscience, to act according to the dictates of conscience concerning (any matter), or to scruple to act contrary to its dictates.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

External links

  • conscience in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • conscience in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

French

Etymology

From Old French conscience, a borrowing from Latin conscientia ‎(“knowledge within oneself”), from consciens, present participle of conscire ‎(“to know, to be conscious (of wrong)”), from com- ‎(“together”) + scire ‎(“to know”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kɔ̃.sjɑ̃s/
  • Homophone: consciences
  • Hyphenation: con‧science

Noun

conscience f ‎(plural consciences)

  1. conscience
  2. consciousness

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

References

Old French

Alternative forms

  • cunscience (Anglo-Norman)

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin conscientia ‎(“knowledge within oneself”).

Noun

conscience f ‎(oblique plural consciences, nominative singular conscience, nominative plural consciences)

  1. conscience
    la conscience ne remort point a ces riches homme‎
    the conscience doesn't bite these rich men

Descendants

Etymology

Borrowing from Old French conscience, from Latin conscientia ‎(“knowledge within oneself”), from consciens, present participle of conscire ‎(“to know, to be conscious (of wrong)”), from com- ‎(“together”) + scire ‎(“to know”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kɒnʃəns/

Similar Results