con·science   (kŏn'shəns)    n.   The awareness of a moral or ethical aspect to one's conduct together with the urge to prefer right over wrong: Let your conscience be your guide. A source of moral or ethical judgment or pronouncement: a document that serves as the nation's conscience. Conformity to one's own sense of right conduct: a person of unflagging conscience. The part of the superego in psychoanalysis that judges the ethical nature of one's actions and thoughts and then transmits such determinations to the ego for consideration. Obsolete Consciousness. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin cōnscientia, from cōnsciēns, cōnscient-, present participle of cōnscīre, to be conscious of : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + scīre, to know; see skei- in Indo-European roots.] con'science·less adj.

Conscience

Con"science\, n. [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. --Shak.

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.

conscience 

Main Entry: con·science
Function: adjective
: exempting persons whose religious beliefs forbid compliance <conscience laws, which allow physicians…to refuse to participate in abortions —W. J. Curran>

Main Entry: con·science
Pronunciation: 'kän-ch&n(t)s
Function: noun
: the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands andadmonitions to the ego

conscience con·science (kŏn'shəns)
n.

1. The awareness of a moral or ethical aspect to one's conduct together with the urge to prefer right over wrong.
2. The part of the superego that judges the ethical nature of one's actions and thoughts and then transmits such determinations to the ego for consideration.

Conscience

that faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been perverted by the Fall (John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Rom. 2:15). It is spoken of as "defiled" (Titus 1:15), and "seared" (1 Tim. 4:2). A "conscience void of offence" is to be sought and cultivated (Acts 24:16; Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 1 Pet. 3:21).

conscience

see have a clear conscience; in conscience.

conscience

a personal sense of the moral content of one's own conduct, intentions, or character with regard to a feeling of obligation to do right or be good. Conscience, usually informed by acculturation and instruction, is thus generally understood to give intuitively authoritative judgments regarding the moral quality of single actions

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