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conscience
9 dictionary results for: conscience
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
con·science 
[kon-shuhns] Pronunciation Key
[kon-shuhns] Pronunciation Key –noun
—Idioms
| 1. | the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action: to follow the dictates of conscience. |
| 2. | the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual. |
| 3. | an inhibiting sense of what is prudent: I'd eat another piece of pie but my conscience would bother me. |
| 4. | conscientiousness. |
| 5. | Obsolete. consciousness; self-knowledge. |
| 6. | Obsolete. strict and reverential observance. |
| 7. | have something on one's conscience, to feel guilty about something, as an act that one considers wrong: She behaves as if she had something on her conscience. |
| 8. | in all conscience,
|
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| con·science
(kŏn'shəns) Pronunciation Key
n.
[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. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
conscience
conscience
c.1225, from O.Fr. conscience, from L. conscientia "knowledge within oneself, a moral sense," prp. of conscire "be mutually aware," from com- "with" + scire "to know." Probably a loan-translation of Gk. syneidesis. Sometimes nativized in O.E./M.E. as inwit. Rus. also uses a loan-translation, so-vest, "conscience," lit. "with-knowledge." Conscientious objector first recorded 1916.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| conscience | |
noun | |
| 1. | motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions |
| 2. | conformity to one's own sense of right conduct; "a person of unflagging conscience" |
| 3. | a feeling of shame when you do something immoral; "he has no conscience about his cruelty" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This
conscience
see have a clear conscience; in conscience.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
conscience 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.
- 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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
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
Function: adjective
: exempting persons whose religious beliefs forbid compliance <conscience laws, which allow physicians…to refuse to participate in abortions —W. J. Curran>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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