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conscience

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkɒn.ʃəns/, /ˈkɒn.tʃəns/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkɑn.ʃəns/, /ˈkɑn.tʃəns/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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conscience (countable and uncountable, plural consciences)

  1. The ethical or moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects a person’s own behaviour and forms their attitude to their past actions.
    Your conscience is your highest authority.
    • 1949, Albert Einstein, as quoted by Virgil Henshaw in Albert Einstein: Philosopher Scientist,
      Never do anything against conscience, even if the state demands it.
    • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 159:
      As for Grierson, he poured liquor into himself as if it were so much soothing syrup, demonstrating that a good digestion is the highest form of good conscience.
    • 1951, Isaac Asimov, Foundation, Panther Books Ltd, published 1974, part V: The Merchant Princes, chapter 14, page 175:
      [“]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: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
      ‘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, narratology) 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.

Derived terms

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Collocations

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Adjectives often used with "conscience"
  • good, bad, guilty. A good conscience is one free from guilt, a bad conscience the opposite.

Collocations

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Some phrases with "conscience"
  • for reasons of conscience, to make a matter of conscience, the dictates of one's conscience

Translations

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See also

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Further reading

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French

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Etymology

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Inherited from Old French conscience, borrowed from Latin cōnscientia (“knowledge within oneself”), from consciens, present participle of conscire (“to know, to be conscious (of wrong)”).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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conscience f (plural consciences)

  1. conscience
  2. consciousness

Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Old French conscience, from Latin conscientia (“knowledge within oneself”).

Noun

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conscience (plural consciences)

  1. conscience

Descendants

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  • English: conscience
  • Yola: coshes, coshe, cosh
  • → Irish: coinsias

References

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Old French

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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

Noun

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conscience oblique singular, 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

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