conscience
[ kon-shuh ns ]
/ ˈkɒn ʃəns /
noun
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.
the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.
an inhibiting sense of what is prudent: I'd eat another piece of pie but my conscience would bother me.
Obsolete.
consciousness; self-knowledge.
Obsolete.
strict and reverential observance.
Idioms for conscience
- in all reason and fairness.
- certainly; assuredly.
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.
in all conscience,
Origin of conscience
OTHER WORDS FROM conscience
con·science·less, adjective con·science·less·ly, adverb con·science·less·ness, noun sub·con·science, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH conscience
conscience consciousWords nearby conscience
Example sentences from the Web for conscienceless
British Dictionary definitions for conscienceless
conscience
/ (ˈkɒnʃəns) /
noun
- the sense of right and wrong that governs a person's thoughts and actions
- regulation of one's actions in conformity to this sense
- a supposed universal faculty of moral insight
conscientiousness; diligence
a feeling of guilt or anxiety
he has a conscience about his unkind action
obsolete
consciousness
in conscience or in all conscience
- with regard to truth and justice
- certainly
on one's conscience
causing feelings of guilt or remorse
Derived forms of conscience
conscienceless, adjectiveWord Origin for conscience
C13: from Old French, from Latin
conscientia knowledge, consciousness, from
conscīre to know; see
conscious
Medical definitions for conscienceless
conscience
[ 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.
Idioms and Phrases with conscienceless
conscience
see have a clear conscience; in conscience.