conscience clause

1 definition found

conscience clause - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Conscience \Con"science\, n. [F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia,
     fr. consciens, p. pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious;
     con- + scire to know. See Science.]
     1. Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness.
        [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The sweetest cordial we receive, at last,
              Is conscience of our virtuous actions past.
                                                    --Denham.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The faculty, power, or inward principle which decides as
        to the character of one's own actions, purposes, and
        affections, warning against and condemning that which is
        wrong, and approving and prompting to that which is right;
        the moral faculty passing judgment on one's self; the
        moral sense.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
              And every tongue brings in a several tale,
              And every tale condemns me for a villain. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The estimate or determination of conscience; conviction or
        right or duty.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Conscience supposes the existence of some such
              [i.e., moral] faculty, and properly signifies our
              consciousness of having acted agreeably or contrary
              to its directions.                    --Adam Smith.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Tenderness of feeling; pity. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Conscience clause, a clause in a general law exempting
        persons whose religious scruples forbid compliance
        therewith, -- as from taking judicial oaths, rendering
        military service, etc.
  
     Conscience money, stolen or wrongfully acquired money that
        is voluntarily restored to the rightful possessor. Such
        money paid into the United States treasury by unknown
        debtors is called the Conscience fund.
  
     Court of Conscience, a court established for the recovery
        of small debts, in London and other trading cities and
        districts. [Eng.] --Blackstone.
  
     In conscience, In all conscience, in deference or
        obedience to conscience or reason; in reason; reasonably.
        "This is enough in conscience." --Howell. "Half a dozen
        fools are, in all conscience, as many as you should
        require." --Swift.
  
     To make conscience of, To make a matter of conscience, to
        act according to the dictates of conscience concerning
        (any matter), or to scruple to act contrary to its
        dictates.
        [1913 Webster]