2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Consciousness  \Con"scious*ness\,  n. 
  1.  The  state  of  being  conscious;  knowledge  of  one's  own 
  existence,  condition,  sensations,  mental  operations,  acts 
  etc 
 
  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. 
 
  2.  Immediate  knowledge  or  perception  of  the  presence  of  any 
  object,  state,  or  sensation.  See  the  Note  under 
  {Attention}. 
 
  Annihilate  the  consciousness  of  the  object,  you 
  annihilate  the  consciousness  of  the  operation.  --Sir 
  W.  Hamilton. 
 
  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. 
 
  The  consciousness  of  wrong  brought  with  it  the 
  consciousness  of  weakness.  --Froude. 
 
  3.  Feeling,  persuasion,  or  expectation;  esp.,  inward  sense  of 
  guilt  or  innocence.  [R.] 
 
  An  honest  mind  is  not  in  the  power  of  a  dishonest: 
  to  break  its  peace  there  must  be  some  guilt  or 
  consciousness.  --Pope. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  consciousness 
  n  1:  an  alert  cognitive  state  in  which  you  are  aware  of  yourself 
  and  your  situation;  "he  lost  consciousness"  [ant:  {unconsciousness}] 
  2:  having  knowledge  of  "he  had  no  awareness  of  his  mistakes"; 
  "his  sudden  consciousness  of  the  problem  he  faced";  "their 
  intelligence  and  general  knowingness  was  impressive"  [syn: 
  {awareness},  {cognizance},  {knowingness}] 

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