An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Gewissen

by Friedrich Kluge

Gewissen, n.,‘conscience,’ from MidHG. gewiȥȥen, f. n., ‘knowledge, information, privity, inner consciousness, conscience,’ even in OHG. giwiȥȥanî, f., ‘conscience’ (Du. geweten); probably an imitation of Lat. conscientia (G. ge equiv. to Lat. con, as in Gevatter), comp. also barmherzig; in Goth. midwissei. OHG. giwiȥȥanî is most closely connected with wissen, THG. infin wiȥȥan.