subconsciousness
subconsciousness Lexical Profile
• noun
The part of the mind that is not currently in focal awareness but continues to influence thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
"The novelist believed that her most vivid characters emerged directly from the depths of her subconsciousness."
The state or quality of being only partially aware of something, or of having mental processes operate outside of active, focal awareness.
"The patient remained in a state of semi-waking subconsciousness as the anesthesia slowly wore off."
Word Nuance & Usage
In everyday usage, 'subconsciousness' is often replaced by the shorter noun 'subconscious' (as in 'the subconscious'). In formal psychoanalytic terminology, however, professionals typically avoid both terms in favor of 'the unconscious' or 'the preconscious'.
• Rhymes for subconsciousness
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 19th century by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ness' to 'subconscious', which itself combines the Latin prefix 'sub-' (meaning 'under' or 'below') with 'conscious' (from Latin 'conscius', meaning 'knowing with others' or 'privy to').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.