conscience Hear it!

conscience Definition

con·science (kän′s̸həns)

noun

  1. a knowledge or sense of right and wrong, with an urge to do right; moral judgment that opposes the violation of a previously recognized ethical principle and that leads to feelings of guilt if one violates such a principle
  2. Obsolete
    1. consciousness
    2. inner thoughts or feelings

Etymology: OFr < L conscientia, consciousness, moral sense < prp. of conscire < com-, with + scire, to know (see science): replacing ME inwit, knowledge within

conscience Related Forms

con′·science·less adjective

conscience Idioms

in (all) conscience

in fairness; on any reasonable ground

on one's conscience

causing one to feel guilty

conscience Synonyms

conscience

n.

moral sense, inner voice, the still small voice*; see duty 1, morals, shame 2.

have on one's conscience

be culpable, be blamable for, be responsible for; see guilty 2.

in (all) conscience

in all fairness, rightly, fairly, properly; see justly 1, surely.