Cŏn'sciōŭs-ness, n.
n. 1. The knowledge of sensations and mental operations, or of what passes in one's own mind; the act of the mind which makes known an internal object.
Consciousness is thus, on the one hand, the recognition by the mind or “ego” of its acts and affections;—in other words, the self-affirmation that certain modifications are known by me, and that these modifications are mine. Sir W. Hamilton.
Sense 2. Immediate knowledge of any object whatever.
Annihilate the consciousness of the object, you annihilate the consciousness of the operation. Sir W. Hamilton.