conscience

/ˈkän(t)-shən(t)s/

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin conscientia, from conscient-, consciens, present participle of conscire to be conscious, be conscious of guilt, from com- + scire to know

noun

  1. the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good

  2. a faculty, power, or principle enjoining good acts

  3. the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego

She had a guilty conscience.

guided by conscience

noun

  1. money paid usually anonymously to relieve the conscience by restoring what has been wrongfully acquired

adjective

  1. feeling very bad or guilty because of something one has done

the story of a conscience-stricken thief who repays all she's stolen