Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
payment made voluntarily to reduce guilt over dishonest dealings;
The 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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
conscience money
n 1: payment made voluntarily to reduce guilt over dishonest
dealings