conscience

Meaning

Noun

• The moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects a person’s own behaviour and forms their attitude to their past actions.
• A personification of the moral sense of right and wrong, usually in the form of a person, a being or merely a voice that gives moral lessons and advices.
• Consciousness; thinking; awareness, especially self-awareness.

Origin

• From Middle English conscience, from Old French conscience, from Latin conscientia ("knowledge within oneself"), from consciens, present participle of conscire, from com- + scire.