Cŏn'sciençe, n.
(kŏn'shens), n. [Lat. conscientia, from consciens, p. pr. of conscire, to know, to be conscious, from con and scire, to know; Fr. conscience, It. conscienzia, conscienza, coscienza, Pg. consciencia, conciencia, Sp. conciencia.]
Sense 1. Knowledge of our own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [Obs.]
The sweetest cordial we receive, at last, Is conscience of our virtuous actions past. Denham.
Sense 2. The knowledge of our acts, states, or characters, as right or wrong; the faculty, power, or principle which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our actions and affections, and approves or condemns them; the moral faculty; the moral sense.
“As science means knowledge, conscience etymologically means self-knowledge. . . . But the English word implies a moral standard of action in the mind as well as a consciousness of our own actions. . . . Conscience is the reason, employed about questions of right and wrong, and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and condemnation.” Whewell.
Sense 3. The estimate or determination of conscience; real sentiment; private thoughts; truth; justice; honesty.
What you require can not, in conscience, be deferred. Milton.
Sense 4. Reason or reasonableness. [Colloq.]
Half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, as many as you should require. Swift.
Court of conscience, a court established for the recovery of small debts, in London and other trading cities and districts. [Eng.] Blackstone. — To make conscience of, or a matter of conscience, to act according to the dictates of conscience, or to scruple to act contrary to its dictates. “He that makes a conscience of loud laughter.” Taylor.