the prick of conscience
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Remorse; torment- ing reflection on one's misdeeds. In the 14th century Richard of Hampole wrote a devo- tional treatise with this title.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the prick of conscience” mean?
Remorse; torment- ing reflection on one's misdeeds. In the 14th century Richard of Hampole wrote a devo- tional treatise with this title.
Is “the prick of conscience” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.