conscience - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (2024)

Table of Contents
Contents English[edit] Etymology[edit] Pronunciation[edit] Noun[edit] See also[edit] Further reading[edit] French[edit] Etymology[edit] Pronunciation[edit] Noun[edit] Further reading[edit] Middle English[edit] Alternative forms[edit] Etymology[edit] Noun[edit] Old French[edit] Alternative forms[edit] Etymology[edit] Noun[edit]

Contents

  • 1 English
    • 1.1 Etymology
    • 1.2 Pronunciation
    • 1.3 Noun
      • 1.3.1 Derived terms
      • 1.3.2 Related terms
      • 1.3.3 Collocations
      • 1.3.4 Collocations
      • 1.3.5 Translations
    • 1.4 See also
    • 1.5 Further reading
  • 2 French
    • 2.1 Etymology
    • 2.2 Pronunciation
    • 2.3 Noun
      • 2.3.1 Antonyms
      • 2.3.2 Derived terms
      • 2.3.3 Related terms
    • 2.4 Further reading
  • 3 Middle English
    • 3.1 Alternative forms
    • 3.2 Etymology
    • 3.3 Noun
      • 3.3.1 Descendants
      • 3.3.2 References
  • 4 Old French
    • 4.1 Alternative forms
    • 4.2 Etymology
    • 4.3 Noun
      • 4.3.1 Descendants

English[edit]

conscience - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (1)

English Wikipedia has an article on:

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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]

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.[”]

      See Also
      Faith and Values: Turning to God for a clear conscience

    • 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]

moral sense

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]

consciencef (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]

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]

conscience - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (2024)
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