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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.

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