Theol. Obs. [Scholastic L., a. Gr. συνείδησις consciousness, conscience, f. συνειδέναι to be cognizant of or privy to a thing, with refl. pron. to be conscious of.
Cf. Syneide (personified) in c. 1620 T. Robinson, Mary Magd., 1245 But still Syneide comforts her againe And tells her, yt ye lambe, for sinners must bee slaine.]
That function or department of conscience that is concerned with passing judgment on acts already performed. (Contrasted with SYNTERESIS.)
1620. R. Carpenter, Conscionable Christian (1623), B j b. Syneidesis-conscience, that is, an actuall application of our knowledge, to this or that particular act or obiect.
1643. Herle, Answ. Ferne, 2. Consciences synteresis, and syneidesis,… can warrant her to passe her Crisis or conclusive judgement.
1679. J. Goodman, Penit. Pard., I. iv. (1713), 101. That which is called Synteresis, and that which is called properly Syneidesis, or conscience. By the former of which, man having as it were a standard within himself of good and evil, he may guide himself in the choice of his actions; by the latter he is able to reflect upon himself, and … pass a judgment upon himself.
