a. Opposed to the constitution; unconstitutional. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office of an archdeacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ NL. See Boa, and Constrictor. ] (Zool.) A large and powerful serpent of tropical America, sometimes twenty or thirty feet long. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It has a succession of spots, alternately black and yellow, extending along the back. It kills its prey by constriction. The name is also loosely applied to other large serpents which crush their prey, particularly to those of the genus Python, found in Asia and Africa. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. related by blood; descended from a common ancestor; -- used as a term of relation between two people.
Syn. -- akin(predicate), blood-related, cognate, consanguineous, kin(predicate). [ PJC + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. (Law) having the same father but different mothers; -- contrasted with uterine{ 2 } and german. [ PJC ]

a. Of the same blood; related by birth. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of kin blood; related. [ R. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. conguineus; con- + sanguis blood: cf. F. consanguin. See Sanquine. ] Of the same blood; related by birth; descended from the same parent or ancestor. Shak.
Syn. -- consanguine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. consanguinitas: cf. F. consanguintité. ] The relation of persons by blood, in distinction from affinity or relation by marriage; blood relationship; as, lineal consanguinity; collateral consanguinity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Invoking aid by the ties of consanguinity. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. consarcinare, -natum, to patch together. ] A patching together; patchwork. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

a. Having a conscience. [ R. ] “Soft-conscienced men.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without conscience; indifferent to conscience; unscrupulous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Conscienceless and wicked patrons. Hookre. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. consciens, -entis, p. pr. ] Conscious. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. consciencieux, LL. conscientiosus. ] 1. Influenced by conscience; governed by a strict regard to the dictates of conscience, or by the known or supposed rules of right and wrong; -- said of a person. [ 1913 Webster ]

The advice of wise and conscientious men. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Characterized by a regard to conscience; conformed to the dictates of conscience; -- said of actions. [ 1913 Webster ]

A holy and conscientious course. Abp. Tillotson.

Syn. -- Scrupulous; exact; faithful; just; upright. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a conscientious manner; as a matter of conscience; hence; faithfully; accurately; completely. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being conscientious; a scrupulous regard to the dictates of conscience. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Irregularly formed fr. conscience. ] Governed by, or according to, conscience; reasonable; just. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let my debtors have conscionable satisfaction. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being conscionable; reasonableness. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Reasonably; justly. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. conscius; con- + scire to know. See Conscience. ] 1. Possessing the faculty of knowing one's own thoughts or mental operations. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some are thinking or conscious beings, or have a power of thought. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Possessing knowledge, whether by internal, conscious experience or by external observation; cognizant; aware; sensible. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her conscious heart imputed suspicion where none could have been felt. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

The man who breathes most healthilly is least conscious of his own breathing. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Made the object of consciousness; known to one's self; as, conscious guilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

With conscious terrors vex me round. Milton.

Syn. -- Aware; apprised; sensible; felt; known. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a conscious manner; with knowledge of one's own mental operations or actions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state of being conscious; knowledge of one's own existence, condition, sensations, mental operations, acts, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Consciousness is thus, on the one hand, the recognition by the mind or “ego” of its acts and affections; -- in other words, the self-affirmation that certain modifications are known by me, and that these modifications are mine. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Immediate knowledge or perception of the presence of any object, state, or sensation. See the Note under Attention. [ 1913 Webster ]

Annihilate the consciousness of the object, you annihilate the consciousness of the operation. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

And, when the steam
Which overflowed the soul had passed away,
A consciousness remained that it had left.
. . . images and precious thoughts
That shall not die, and can not be destroyed. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

The consciousness of wrong brought with it the consciousness of weakness. Froude. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Feeling, persuasion, or expectation; esp., inward sense of guilt or innocence. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

An honest mind is not in the power of a dishonest: to break its peace there must be some guilt or consciousness. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. conscribere. See Conscript. ] To enroll; to enlist. [ Obs. ] E. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To enroll, by compulsion, for military service. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. conscriptus, p. p. of conscribere to write together, to enroll; con- + scribere to write. See Scribe. ] Enrolled; written; registered. [ 1913 Webster ]

Conscript fathers (Rom. Antiq.), the senators of ancient Rome. When certain new senators were first enrolled with the “fathers” the body was called Patres et Conscripti; afterward all were called Patres conscripti. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One taken by lot, or compulsorily enrolled, to serve as a soldier or sailor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. conscriptio: cf. F. conscription. ] 1. An enrolling or registering. [ 1913 Webster ]

The conscription of men of war. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A compulsory enrollment of men for military or naval service; a draft. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Belonging to, or of the nature of, a conspiration. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. consceratus, p. p. of conscerare to conscerate; con- + sacrare to consecrate, sacer sacred. See Sacred. ] Consecrated; devoted; dedicated; sacred. [ 1913 Webster ]

They were assembled in that consecrate place. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Consecrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Consecrating. ] 1. To make, or declare to be, sacred; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the service or worship of God; as, to consecrate a church; to give (one's self) unreservedly, as to the service of God. [ 1913 Webster ]

One day in the week is . . . consecrated to a holy rest. Sharp. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To set apart to a sacred office; as, to consecrate a bishop. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. Ex. xxix. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To canonize; to exalt to the rank of a saint; to enroll among the gods, as a Roman emperor. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To render venerable or revered; to hallow; to dignify; as, rules or principles consecrated by time. Burke.

Syn. -- See Addict. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Consecrator. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. consecratio: cf. F. consécration. ] The act or ceremony of consecrating; the state of being consecrated; dedication. [ 1913 Webster ]

Until the days of your consecration be at an end. Lev. viii. 33. [ 1913 Webster ]

Consecration makes not a place sacred, but only solemnly declares it so. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who consecrates; one who performs the rites by which a person or thing is devoted or dedicated to sacred purposes. [ Written also consecrater. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the act of consecration; dedicatory. [ 1913 Webster ]

The consecratory prayer. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. consectaneus. ] Following as a matter of course. Blount. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which follows by consequence or is logically deducible; deduction from premises; corollary. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. consectarius, fr. consectari to follow after eagerly; con- + sectari to follow eagerly, fr. sequi to follow. ] Following by consequence; consequent; deducible. [ R. ] “Consectary impieties.” Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To follow closely; to endeavor to overtake; to pursue. [ Obs. ] Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. consecutio. See Consequent. ] 1. A following, or sequel; actual or logical dependence. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A succession or series of any kind. [ Obs. ] Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Month of consecution (Astron.), a month as reckoned from one conjunction of the moon with the sun to another. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. consécutif. See Consequent. ] 1. Following in a train; succeeding one another in a regular order; successive; uninterrupted in course or succession; with no interval or break; as, fifty consecutive years. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Following as a consequence or result; actually or logically dependent; consequential; succeeding. [ 1913 Webster ]

The actions of a man consecutive to volition. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) Having similarity of sequence; -- said of certain parallel progressions of two parts in a piece of harmony; as, consecutive fifths, or consecutive octaves, which are forbidden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Consecutive chords (Mus.), chords of the same kind succeeding one another without interruption. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a consecutive manner; by way of sequence; successively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being consecutive. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. consensio. ] Agreement; accord. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Consent, v. i., and cf. Sensual. ] 1. (Law) Existing, or made, by the mutual consent of two or more parties. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physiol.) Excited or caused by sensation, sympathy, or reflex action, and not by conscious volition; as, consensual motions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Consensual contract (Law), a contract formed merely by consent, as a marriage contract. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. See Consent. ] Agreement; accord; consent. [ 1913 Webster ]

That traditional consensus of society which we call public opinion. Tylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Consented; p. pr. & vb. n. Consenting. ] [ F. consentir, fr. L. consentire, -sensum, to feel together, agree; con- + sentire to feel. See Sense. ] 1. To agree in opinion or sentiment; to be of the same mind; to accord; to concur. [ 1913 Webster ]

And Saul was consenting unto his death. Acts. viii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

Flourishing many years before Wyclif, and much consenting with him in jugdment. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To indicate or express a willingness; to yield to guidance, persuasion, or necessity; to give assent or approval; to comply. [ 1913 Webster ]

My poverty, but not my will, consents. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And whispering “I will ne'er consent, ” -- consented. Byron.

Syn. -- To accede; yield; assent; comply; agree; allow; concede; permit; admit; concur; acquiesce. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To grant; to allow; to assent to; to admit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Interpreters . . . will not consent it to be a true story. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. consent. ] 1. Agreement in opinion or sentiment; the being of one mind; accord. [ 1913 Webster ]

All with one consent began to make excuse. Luke xiv. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

They fell together all, as by consent. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Correspondence in parts, qualities, or operations; agreement; harmony; coherence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The melodious consent of the birds. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such is the world's great harmony that springs
From union, order, full consent of things. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Voluntary accordance with, or concurrence in, what is done or proposed by another; acquiescence; compliance; approval; permission. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou wert possessed of David's throne
By free consent of all. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) Capable, deliberate, and voluntary assent or agreement to, or concurrence in, some act or purpose, implying physical and mental power and free action. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Physiol.) Sympathy. See Sympathy, 4.

Syn. -- Assent; acquiescence; concurrence; agreement; approval; permission. See Assent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Age of consent (Law), an age, fixed by statute and varying in different jurisdictions, at which one is competent to give consent. Sexual intercourse with a female child under the age of consent is punishable as rape. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Mutual agreement. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. consentaneus. ] Consistent; agreeable; suitable; accordant to; harmonious; concurrent. [ 1913 Webster ]

A good law and consentaneous to reason. Howell.

-- Con`sen*ta"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- Con`sen*ta"ne*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]