Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb archaic, rare To have a (specified kind of)
conscience . - verb rare To find
conscionable .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Some modern uses may be back-formations from conscionable.
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Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
marrymemckean commented on the word conscion
This is now, with disambiguation, topping my favorites list. From the OED:
..on conscionable:
"Found with its compounds, and CONSCIONED, in first half of 16th c. These, with CONSCIONLESS, appear to be popular formations from conscion, taken as a singular of conscien-ce (see note to the latter)."
on conscien-ce:
"In the 15-16th c., the word appears to have been often, by reason of its final s sound, associated with plurals like wits, brains, bowels, as patience is still in dialects. Cf. the illiterate spellings consions, conchons, etc.: hence apparently conscion- in CONSCIONABLE, CONSCIONED, CONSCIONLESS. "
I love it. Definitely used in speech (I use it a few times a year, without thinking about it), and the origin of some great com-fauxing-pounds, but invisible in print!
February 26, 2010