conscientiousness (konsienshusnes)

The quality of being conscientious; a scrupulous regard to the decisions of conscience; strict adherence to the principles of right conduct. There were the high Christian graces, conscientiousne such as few kings are able or dare to display on the throne, which never swerved either through ambition or policy from strict rectitude. Milman , Latin Christianity, xi. 1. conscionable (kon's hon-a-bl), a. [Irreg. formed (in Elizabeth's reign) from conscience; as if for * conscience able, Gon. See, sir, your mortgage, which I only took In case you and your son had in the wars Miscarried: I yield it up again; 'tis yours. Cas . Are you so conscionable ? Beau . and Fl ., Laws of Candy, iv. 2. A knave very voluble; no further conscionable than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming. Shak ., Othello, ii. 1. Let mercers then have conscionable thumbs when they Middle ton , The Black Book. measure out that smooth glittering devil, satin. 2. Conformable to conscience; consonant with Shak., Othello, iv. 3. right or duty; proper; just. [Most common in the negative. See unconscionable .] Milton . What you require cannot, in conscience, be deferred. (b) Most certainly; a uredly. We have but a few days longer to stay here; too little in conscience for such a place. Gray, Letters, I. 83. To free one's conscience. See free. To make a matter of conscience, to consider from a conscientious point of view; act in regard to as conscience dictates: as, to make daily exercise a matter of conscience. To make consciencet, to act according to the dictates of conscience; do what is required by one's sense of right and wrong. Troth I do make conscience of vexing thee now in the dog-days. L. Jonson , Bartholomew Fair, ii. 1. There is no conscience to be made in the kind or nature of the meat being flesh or fish. Privy Council (Arber's Eng. Garner, I. 302). Children are travellers newly arrived in a strange country; we should therefore make conscience not to deceive them. Locke.