conscience
SayKON-shuhns/ˈkɑn.ʃəns/UK/ˈkɒn.ʃəns/
Pluralconsciences
- 1The inner sense that tells you when something you do is right or wrong.
Like a small voice inside you that says, "That's not right."
Her conscience told her to return the lost wallet to its owner.
He felt a heavy conscience after lying to his best friend.
Similarprinciples, scruples
Note
- 2A character or voice in a story that stands for right and wrong and gives moral advice.
Like a cartoon angel sitting on someone's shoulder, telling them what is right.
In the cartoon, his conscience appeared as a tiny angel perched on his shoulder.
The story gives the boy a talking conscience that warns him before he lies.
Note
- 3The state of being aware of things, especially of your own thoughts and self.
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought.
c. 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”Here, conscience means thinking, or being aware of things and of yourself.Note
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Origin
It comes from Latin conscientia, meaning 'knowledge within oneself,' built from parts meaning 'together' and 'to know.' It reached English through Old French.