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Where does the word "conscience" come from? It comes from Latin conscientia, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
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Where does the word "conscience" come from? It comes from Latin conscientia, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
Conscience’s story begins in Latin: conscientia meant “inner knowledge, awareness.” Literally knowing with oneself, from com- (with) and scire (to know). It reached English by 1200s as conscience. Settled as the English word for one's inner sense of right and wrong. Today, conscience means an inner sense of right and wrong that guides a person's behavior.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient conscientia "inner knowledge, awareness", literally knowing with oneself, from com- (with) and scire (to know).
- Stage 2 · English · 1200s conscience "an inner sense of right and wrong guiding behavior", settled as the English word for one's inner sense of right and wrong.