Sensibility

Sensibility
Sensibility Sen`si*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. {Sensibilities}. [Cf. F. sensibilit['e], LL. sensibilitas.] 1. (Physiol.) The quality or state of being sensible, or capable of sensation; capacity to feel or perceive. [1913 Webster]

2. The capacity of emotion or feeling, as distinguished from the intellect and the will; peculiar susceptibility of impression, pleasurable or painful; delicacy of feeling; quick emotion or sympathy; as, sensibility to pleasure or pain; sensibility to shame or praise; exquisite sensibility; -- often used in the plural. ``Sensibilities so fine!'' --Cowper. [1913 Webster]

The true lawgiver ought to have a heart full of sensibility. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

His sensibilities seem rather to have been those of patriotism than of wounded pride. --Marshall. [1913 Webster]

3. Experience of sensation; actual feeling. [1913 Webster]

This adds greatly to my sensibility. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

4. That quality of an instrument which makes it indicate very slight changes of condition; delicacy; as, the sensibility of a balance, or of a thermometer. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Taste; susceptibility; feeling. See {Taste}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Sensibility — refers to an acute perception of or responsiveness toward something, such as the emotions of another. This concept emerged in eighteenth century Britain, and was closely associated with studies of sense perception as the means through which… …   Wikipedia

  • sensibility — I noun acuteness, affectibility, alertness, appreciation, attentiveness, awareness, comprehension, consciousness, delicacy, delicacy of feeling, discernment, discrimination, emotion, feeling, fineness, impressibility, judgment, keenness,… …   Law dictionary

  • sensibility — late 14c., “capability of being perceived by the senses,” from L. sensibilitas, from sensibilis (see SENSIBLE (Cf. sensible)). Rarely recorded until the emergence of the meaning “emotional consciousness, capacity for refined emotion”… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sensibility — feeling, sense, *sensation Analogous words: perception, *discernment, penetration, discrimination, insight: sensitiveness, susceptibility (see corresponding adjectives at LIABLE): emotion, *feeling, affection …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • sensibility — [n] responsiveness; ability to feel affection, appreciation, awareness, discernment, emotion, feeling, gut reaction*, heart*, insight, intuition, judgment, keenness, perceptiveness, rationale, sensation, sense, sensitiveness, sensitivity,… …   New thesaurus

  • sensibility — ► NOUN (pl. sensibilities) 1) the ability to appreciate and respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences. 2) (sensibilities) the tendency to be easily offended of shocked …   English terms dictionary

  • sensibility — [sen΄sə bil′ə tē] n. pl. sensibilities [ME < MFr < LL sensibilitas < L sensibilis: see SENSIBLE] 1. the capacity for physical sensation; power of responding to stimuli; ability to feel 2. [often pl.] a) the capacity for being affected… …   English World dictionary

  • Sensibility — (Roget s Thesaurus) < N PARAG:Sensibility >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 sensibility sensibility sensibleness sensitiveness Sgm: N 1 moral sensibility moral sensibility Sgm: N 1 impressibility impressibility affectibility Sgm: N 1 susceptibleness… …   English dictionary for students

  • sensibility — [[t]se̱nsɪbɪ̱lɪti[/t]] sensibilities 1) N UNCOUNT: usu supp N Sensibility is the ability to experience deep feelings. Everything he writes demonstrates the depth of his sensibility. ...a man of sensibility. 2) N VAR: usu poss N Someone s… …   English dictionary

  • sensibility — /sen seuh bil i tee/, n., pl. sensibilities. 1. capacity for sensation or feeling; responsiveness or susceptibility to sensory stimuli. 2. mental susceptibility or responsiveness; quickness and acuteness of apprehension or feeling. 3. keen… …   Universalium

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