All 5 Uses of
conscious
in
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
- She would naturally have lifted her skirts free of the uncut grass, but a new self-consciousness restrained her.
p. 29.9self-consciousness = nervousness or discomfort about what others would think of him
- Braced to meet the reserve and suspicion she had encountered at every introduction so far, Kit was startled to meet the unmistakably dazzled gaze of William Ashby, and unconsciously she rewarded him with the first genuine smile she had managed this morning.
p. 57.5unconsciously = instinctively (without thought or intent)standard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unconsciously means not and reverses the meaning of consciously. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky. Also note that while many people use this as a synonym for subconsciously, experts in the mind may distinguish a difference.
- She had never consciously made any decision, but suddenly there it was waiting and unmistakable. "'Tis no use, William," she said now. "You and I would always be uneasy, all of our lives. We would always be hoping for the other one to be different, and always being disappointed when it didn't happen."
p. 230.1 *consciously = with mental activity of which one is aware
- A seaman in a blue coat bent to check a row of barrels, and as he straightened up, even before he turned or before she consciously recognized him, Kit began to run.
p. 247.0
- She had to look away, and abruptly she was conscious of the crowded dock.
p. 247.4 *conscious = aware
Definitions:
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(1)
(conscious as in: conscious after the operation) awake (not asleep or in a state similar to sleep where one is unaware of anything)
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(2)
(conscious as in: a conscious effort to lose weight) intentional (done on purpose) -- perhaps with significant effort
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(3)
(conscious as in: environmentally conscious) aware or concerned about something
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(4)
(conscious as in: the conscious mind) mental activity of which one is self-aware
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(5)
(conscious as in: conscious life on other planets) capable of thought, self-reflection, and will