Etymologically
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conscius

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkõː.ski.ʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔn̠ʲ.ʃi.us][1]

Forms

cōnscius (feminine cōnscia, neuter cōnscium); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from con- (“with”) and the root of sciō “to know”, with the adjective suffix -us, or from cōnsciō “to be aware”.[2][1][3] Etymonline suggests it may be a loan-translation of Ancient Greek συνειδώς (syneidṓs).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of sharing secret knowledge and of a guilty conscience.[2] Köbler's first source is Terence.[4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant sharing knowledge, especially secret knowledge, privy to, as Cicero's man most privy to his zeal for his friend, and poetically of things, as Virgil's witnessing stars.[2][5] As a noun it meant an accomplice, accessory to a crime or plot, as in Cicero.[2] With a reflexive dative it meant inwardly aware, conscious of one's own acts, as in Ovid, and it also meant conscious of guilt, guilty, as in Plautus and Catullus.[2]

In Medieval Latin it meant sharing knowledge, privy.[6] English conscious was borrowed about 1600, first meaning “privy to”.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of shared secrets and of guilt.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of accomplices.[2][4]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of inner awareness.[2][4]
  • c. 1600 – English conscious is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Sharing knowledge, privy (to).[2]
  2. Privy to a crime, (as noun) an accomplice.[2]
  3. Inwardly aware, conscious.[2]
  4. Conscious of guilt, guilty.[2]

Word family

  • inconscius
  • sciō
  • cōnsciō
  • cōnscientia
  • English conscious

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press