syneidesis

noun

syn·​ei·​de·​sis

ˌsiˌnīˈdēsə̇s

plural syneideses

-ēˌsēz

: the capacity to apply general principles of moral judgment to particular cases

—distinguished from synderesis

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Greek syneidēsis, literally, consciousness, awareness, from syneidenai to have knowledge of something, be aware of something (from syn- + eidenai to know) + -sis

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined above

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