Definitions for conscience
ˈkɒn ʃənscon·science

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:2.0 / 2 votes

1. conscience, scruples, moral sense, sense of right and wrongnoun

   motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions

2. consciencenoun

   conformity to one's own sense of right conduct

   "a person of unflagging conscience"

3. consciencenoun

   a feeling of shame when you do something immoral

   "he has no conscience about his cruelty"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. consciencenoun

   The moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects one's own behaviour; inwit.

2. consciencenoun

   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. consciencenoun

   Consciousness; thinking; awareness, especially self-awareness.

4. Etymology: From conscience, from conscientia, from consciens, present participle of conscire, from com- + scire.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. CONSCIENCEnoun

   Etymology: conscientia, Latin.

   1. The knowledge or faculty by which we judge of the goodness or wickedness of ourselves.

   When a people have no touch of conscience, no sense of their evil doings, it is bootless to think to restrain them. Edmund Spenser.

   On earth,
   Who against faith, and conscience, can be heard
   Infallible? John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. xii. l. 529.

   Such a conscience has not been wanting to itself, in endeavouring to get the clearest information about the will of God. Robert South, Sermons.

   But why must those be thought to ’scape, that feel
   Those rods of scorpions, and those whips of steel,
   Which conscience shakes? John Dryden, Juv. Sat. 13.

   No courts created yet, nor cause was heard;
   But all was safe, for conscience was their guard. John Dryden, Ovid.

   Conscience signifies that knowledge which a man hath of his own thoughts and actions; and, because if a man judgeth fairly of his actions, by comparing them with the law of God, his mind will approve or condemn him, this knowledge or conscience may be both an accuser and a judge. Jonathan Swift.

   2. Justice; the estimate of conscience; the determination of conscience; honesty.

   This is thank worthy, if a man, for conscience toward God, endure grief. 1 Pet. ii. 19.

   Now is Cupid a child of conscience; he makes restitution. William Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor.

   He had, against right and conscience, by shameful treachery, intruded himself into another man’s kingdom in Africk. Richard Knolles, History of the Turks.

   What you require cannot, in conscience, be deferred beyond this time. John Milton.

   Her majesty is, without question, obliged in conscience to endeavour this by her authority, as much as by her practice. Jonathan Swift, Project for the Advancement of Religion.

   3. Consciousness; knowledge of our own thoughts or actions.

   Merit, and good works, is the end of man’s motion; and conscience of the same is the accomplishment of man’s rest. Francis Bacon.

   The reason why the simpler sort are moved with authority, is the conscience of their own ignorance. Richard Hooker, b. ii. s. 6.

   The sweetest cordial we receive at last,
   Is conscience of our virtuous actions past. John Denham.

   Hector was in an absolute certainty of death, and depressed with the conscience of being in an ill cause. Alexander Pope.

   4. Real sentiment; veracity; private thoughts.

   Do’st thou in conscience think, tell me, Æmilia,
   That there be women do abuse their husbands,
   In such gross kind? William Shakespeare, Othello.

   They did in their consciences know, that he was not able to send them any part of it. Edward Hyde, b. viii.

   5. Scruple; difficulty.

   We must make a conscience in keeping the just laws of superiours. Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living.

   Why should not the one make as much conscience of betraying for gold, as the other of doing it for a crust. Roger L'Estrange.

   Children are travellers newly arrived in a strange country; we should therefore make conscience not to mislead them. John Locke.

   6. In ludicrous language, reason; reasonableness.

   Why do’st thou weep? Can’st thou the conscience lack,
   To think I shall lack friends? William Shakespeare, Timon.

   Half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, as many as you should require. Jonathan Swift.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Conscience

   Conscience is a cognitive process that elicits emotion and rational associations based on an individual's moral philosophy or value system. Conscience stands in contrast to elicited emotion or thought due to associations based on immediate sensory perceptions and reflexive responses, as in sympathetic central nervous system responses. In common terms, conscience is often described as leading to feelings of remorse when a person commits an act that conflicts with their moral values. The extent to which conscience informs moral judgment before an action and whether such moral judgments are or should be based on reason has occasioned debate through much of modern history between theories of basics in ethic of human life in juxtaposition to the theories of romanticism and other reactionary movements after the end of the Middle Ages. Religious views of conscience usually see it as linked to a morality inherent in all humans, to a beneficent universe and/or to divinity. The diverse ritualistic, mythical, doctrinal, legal, institutional and material features of religion may not necessarily cohere with experiential, emotive, spiritual or contemplative considerations about the origin and operation of conscience. Common secular or scientific views regard the capacity for conscience as probably genetically determined, with its subject probably learned or imprinted as part of a culture.Commonly used metaphors for conscience include the "voice within", the "inner light", or even Socrates' reliance on what the Greeks called his "daimōnic sign", an averting (ἀποτρεπτικός apotreptikos) inner voice heard only when he was about to make a mistake. Conscience, as is detailed in sections below, is a concept in national and international law, is increasingly conceived of as applying to the world as a whole, has motivated numerous notable acts for the public good and been the subject of many prominent examples of literature, music and film.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. conscience

   Conscience is a term that refers to an inherent moral sense or personal awareness of right and wrong. It is the ability to differentiate between one's own values, beliefs, and principles and to judge the morality and ethicality of one's own thoughts, actions, and decisions. Conscience acts as an internal compass, guiding individuals to make decisions that align with their personal sense of integrity and moral duty. It is often influenced by individual upbringing, societal norms, religious beliefs, and personal experiences.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Consciencenoun

   knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness

2. Consciencenoun

   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

3. Consciencenoun

   the estimate or determination of conscience; conviction or right or duty

4. Consciencenoun

   tenderness of feeling; pity

5. Etymology: [F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia, fr. consciens, p. pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious; con- + scire to know. See Science.]

WikidataRate this definition:2.0 / 3 votes

1. Conscience

   Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgment may derive from values or norms. In psychological terms conscience is often described as leading to feelings of remorse when a human commits actions that go against his/her moral values and to feelings of rectitude or integrity when actions conform to such norms. The extent to which conscience informs moral judgment before an action and whether such moral judgments are or should be based in reason has occasioned debate through much of the history of Western philosophy. Religious views of conscience usually see it as linked to a morality inherent in all humans, to a beneficent universe and/or to divinity. The diverse ritualistic, mythical, doctrinal, legal, institutional and material features of religion may not necessarily cohere with experiential, emotive, spiritual or contemplative considerations about the origin and operation of conscience. Common secular or scientific views regard the capacity for conscience as probably genetically determined, with its subject probably learned or imprinted as part of a culture.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Conscience

   kon′shens, n. the knowledge of our own acts and feelings as right or wrong: sense of duty: scrupulousness: (Shak.) understanding: the faculty or principle by which we distinguish right from wrong.—adjs. Con′science-proof, unvisited by any compunctions of conscience; Con′science-smit′ten, stung by conscience; Conscien′tious, regulated by a regard to conscience: scrupulous.—adv. Conscien′tiously.—n. Conscien′tiousness.—adj. Con′scionable, governed or regulated by conscience.—n. Con′scionableness.—adv. Con′scionably.—Conscience clause, a clause in a law, affecting religious matters, to relieve persons of conscientious scruples, esp. one to prevent their children being compelled to undergo particular religious instruction; Conscience money, money given to relieve the conscience, by discharging a claim previously evaded; Case of conscience, a question in casuistry.—Good, or Bad, conscience, an approving or reproving conscience.—In all conscience, certainly: (coll.) by all that is right and fair.—Make a matter of conscience, to act according to conscience: to have scruples about.—My conscience! a vulgar exclamation of astonishment, or an asseveration.—Speak one's conscience (Shak.), to speak frankly: to give one's opinion. [Fr.,—L. conscientia, knowledge—conscīre, to know well—con, and scīre, to know.]

The Roycroft DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. conscience

   1. The muzzle of the will. 2. The Pecksniffian mask of the fundamental Bill Sykes. 3. The aspiration of Rosinante to be Pegasus.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Conscience

   The cognitive and affective processes which constitute an internalized moral governor over an individual's moral conduct.

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon WurdzRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. CONSCIENCE

   The fear of being found out.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. conscience

   The act, fact, quality, and ability to use our mind, soul, spirit, passion and consciousness as a form of sane, logical and rational power and motivation and a form of ethical and moral principles that govern our thoughts and actions.

   Our conscience is an important element of our mind and soul and contributes to our sense of justness, fairness, actions, motivation and authority.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on April 3, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Ethical Motive
   • Morality
   • Shame

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'conscience' in Nouns Frequency: #2352

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce conscience?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say conscience in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of conscience in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of conscience in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of conscience in a Sentence

1. Edward Bulwer-Lytton:

   Destiny is but a phrase of the weak human heart - the dark apology for every error. The strong and virtuous admit no destiny. On earth conscience guides; in heaven God watches. And destiny is but the phantom we invoke to silence the one and dethrone the other.

2. General Omar Bradley:

   Our humanity is trapped by moral adolescents. We have too many men of science, too few men of God. The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom and power without conscience.

3. President Putin:

   From those who seized and hold power in Kyiv, we demand an immediate cessation of hostilities, otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of the bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling on the territory of Modern Ukraine.

4. Leo Tolstoy:

   The changes in our life must come from the impossibility to live otherwise than according to the demands of our conscience not from our mental resolution to try a new form of life.

5. Bill Donohue:

   The most basic religious right is the right to believe; if conscience rights can be vitiated, the First Amendment means nothing, macy’s has no legal, or moral grounds to stand on.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=conscience
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Conscience
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=conscience
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscience
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conscience
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=conscience
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=conscience
9. ^ The Roycroft Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/36566/36566-h/36566-h.htm#:~:text=conscience
10. ^ The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz
    https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1989/pg1989-images.html#:~:text=conscience
11. ^ Usage in printed sources
    https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=conscience