conscience (1 the usual sense; phr. “upon” or “in” (one's) “conscience” Tw.N. III. i. 33, 3H6 III. iii. 113, Oth. IV. iii. 62;—“a” or “o' conscience” [see A3] Per. IV. ii. 23;—“for conscience' sake” Cor. II. iii. 36)
1.
sense of right and wrong
Ham. III. i. 83
“Thus does make cowards
of us all”
;
Tp. II. i. 286
“I feel not This deity
in my bosom: twenty consciences . . .
candied be they”
. . . .
2.
regard for the
dictates of conscience, conscientiousness Wint. IV. iii. [iv.] 663
“I cannot with take it,”
Oth. III. iii. 203
“their best conscience
Is not to leave't undone, but keep't
unknown.”
3.
inward knowledge or
consciousness, internal conviction, inmost thought
Wint. III. ii. 47,
H5 IV. i. 124
“I will speak my of the
king,”
2H6 III. i. 68,
Cym. I. vi. 116
“my mutest
conscience.”
4.
reasonableness, sound
judgement
Tim. II. ii. 185
“Canst thou the lack, To
think I shall lack friends?”
