Definition of conscience

< consanguinity

conscience clause >

con·science    (knshns) KEY 

NOUN:

1. 1. The awareness of a moral or ethical aspect to one's conduct together with the urge to prefer right over wrong: Let your conscience be your guide.
   2. A source of moral or ethical judgment or pronouncement: a document that serves as the nation's conscience.
   3. Conformity to one's own sense of right conduct: a person of unflagging conscience.
2. The part of the superego in psychoanalysis that judges the ethical nature of one's actions and thoughts and then transmits such determinations to the ego for consideration.
3. Obsolete Consciousness.

IDIOM:
in (all good) conscience

In all truth or fairness.

---

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French, from Latin cnscientia, from cnscins, cnscient- present participle of cnscre, to be conscious of : com-, intensive pref. ; see com- + scre, to know; see skei- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
conscience·less(Adjective)