from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sensible \Sen"si*ble\, a. [F., fr. L. sensibilis, fr. sensus
sense.]
1. Capable of being perceived by the senses; apprehensible
through the bodily organs; hence, also, perceptible to the
mind; making an impression upon the sense, reason, or
understanding; ?????? heat; sensible resistance.
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Air is sensible to the touch by its motion.
--Arbuthnot.
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The disgrace was more sensible than the pain. --Sir
W. Temple.
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Any very sensible effect upon the prices of things.
--A. Smith.
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2. Having the capacity of receiving impressions from external
objects; capable of perceiving by the instrumentality of
the proper organs; liable to be affected physsically or
mentally; impressible.
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Would your cambric were sensible as your finger.
--Shak.
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3. Hence: Liable to impression from without; easily affected;
having nice perception or acute feeling; sensitive; also,
readily moved or affected by natural agents; delicate; as,
a sensible thermometer. "With affection wondrous
sensible." --Shak.
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4. Perceiving or having perception, either by the senses or
the mind; cognizant; perceiving so clearly as to be
convinced; satisfied; persuaded.
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He [man] can not think at any time, waking or
sleeping, without being sensible of it. --Locke.
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They are now sensible it would have been better to
comply than to refuse. --Addison.
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5. Having moral perception; capable of being affected by
moral good or evil.
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6. Possessing or containing sense or reason; giftedwith, or
characterized by, good or common sense; intelligent; wise.
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Now a sensible man, by and by a fool. --Shak.
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{Sensible note} or {Sensible tone} (Mus.), the major seventh
note of any scale; -- so called because, being but a half
step below the octave, or key tone, and naturally leading
up to that, it makes the ear sensible of its approaching
sound. Called also the {leading tone}.
{Sensible horizon}. See {Horizon}, n., 2.
(a) .
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Syn: Intelligent; wise.
Usage: {Sensible}, {Intelligent}. We call a man sensible
whose judgments and conduct are marked and governed by
sound judgment or good common semse. We call one
intelligent who is quick and clear in his
understanding, i. e., who discriminates readily and
nicely in respect to difficult and important
distinction. The sphere of the sensible man lies in
matters of practical concern; of the intelligent man,
in subjects of intellectual interest. "I have been
tired with accounts from sensible men, furnished with
matters of fact which have happened within their own
knowledge." --Addison. "Trace out numerous footsteps .
. . of a most wise and intelligent architect
throughout all this stupendous fabric." --Woodward.
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