conscience

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
  2. noun conformity to one's own sense of right conduct
  3. noun a feeling of shame when you do something immoral

Etymology

From Middle English conscience, from Old French conscience, from Latin conscientia (“knowledge within oneself”), from consciens, present participle of conscire (“to know, to be conscious (of wrong)”), from com- (“together”) + scire (“to know”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

scruples, moral sense, sense of right and wrong

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