Synteresis
//sɪntɪˈɹiːsɪs// noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An aspect of one's conscience by which one can judge wrong from right and decide on what makes good conduct (as distinguished from syneidesis). historical, uncountable
"Synteresis, or the purer part of the conscience, is an innate habit, and doth signify “a conservation of the knowledge of the law of God and Nature, to know good or evil”."
- 2 Preventive treatment; prophylaxis. obsolete, uncountable
Example
More examples"Synteresis, or the purer part of the conscience, is an innate habit, and doth signify “a conservation of the knowledge of the law of God and Nature, to know good or evil”."
Etymology
From Medieval Latin syntērēsis (in Thomas Aquinas), from Ancient Greek συντήρησις (suntḗrēsis, “careful watching”), from συντηρεῖν (suntēreîn, “to keep guard”).
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.