conscience
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
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 [edit]
Noun [edit]
conscience (plural consciences)
- The moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects one's own behaviour; inwit.
- 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.[”]
- 1949, Albert Einstein, as quoted by Virgil Henshaw in Albert Einstein: Philosopher Scientist,
- (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.
- (obsolete) Consciousness; thinking; awareness, especially self-awareness.
- 1603, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, act 3, sc. 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.
- 1603, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, act 3, sc. 1,
Usage notes [edit]
- 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 [edit]
Terms derived from conscience
Related terms [edit]
Terms etymologically related to conscience
Translations [edit]
moral sense
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See also [edit]
External links [edit]
- conscience in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- conscience in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
French [edit]
Etymology [edit]
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 [edit]
- IPA: /kɔ̃.sjɑ̃s/, X-SAMPA: /ko~.sja~s@/
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Audio (France, Paris) (file) - Homophone: consciences
- Hyphenation: con‧science
Noun [edit]
conscience f (plural consciences)
Antonyms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
References [edit]
- "conscience" in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
Old French [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Borrowing from Latin conscientia (“knowledge within oneself”).
Noun [edit]
conscience f (oblique plural consciences, nominative singular conscience, nominative plural consciences)
Categories:
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English nouns
- English terms with obsolete senses
- English words not following the I before E except after C rule
- en:Fictional characters
- en:Personifications
- French terms derived from Latin
- French borrowed terms
- French nouns
- French feminine nouns
- French countable nouns
- Old French terms derived from Latin
- Old French borrowed terms
- Old French nouns
- Old French feminine nouns
