Word of the Day: Conscious

/ˈkän(t)SHəs/, adjective: 1. aware of, perceiving, or responding to one’s surroundings with controlled thought or observation “We pause to become conscious of our national life and to rejoice in it, to recall what our county has done for each of us, and ask ourselves what we can do for our county in return.” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., 1841 – 1933 “To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.” Benjamin Disraeli, 1804 – 1881 2. having mental faculties unfazed by sleep, faintness or stupor; awake “Why all the fuss and bother about the mystery of the unconscious? What about the mystery of the conscious? What do they know about that?” James Joyce, 1882 – 1941 3. done or acting with critical awareness “By a conscious effort of the mind we can stand aloof from actions and their consequences; and all things, good and bad, go by us like a torrent.” Henry David Thoreau, 1817 – 1862