Wiktionary

conscience

English edit

 
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Etymology edit

From Middle English conscience, 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

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

Noun edit

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 edit

Related terms edit

Collocations edit

Adjectives often used with "conscience"

good, bad, guilty. A good conscience is one free from guilt, a bad conscience the opposite.

Collocations edit

Some phrases with "conscience"

for reasons of conscience, to make a matter of conscience, the dictates of one's conscience

Translations edit

See also edit

Further reading edit

French edit

Etymology edit

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 edit

Noun edit

conscience f (plural consciences)

  1. conscience
  2. consciousness

Antonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Further reading edit

Middle English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

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

Noun edit

conscience (plural consciences)

  1. conscience

Descendants edit

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

References edit

Old French edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

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

Noun edit

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 edit

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