Sĕn’si-ble1, a.
a. [Fr. & Sp. sensible, Pg. sensivel, It. sensibile, Lat. sensibilis, from sensus, sense.]
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.
Air is sensible to the touch by its motion, Arbuthnot.
The disgrace was more sensible than the pain. Sir W. Temple.
Sense 2. Having the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; capable of perceiving by the instrumentality of the proper organs; liable to be affected physically or mentally; impressible.
Would your cambric were as sensible as your finger. Shak.
Sense 3. Hence, liable to impression from without; easily affected; having nice perception or acute feeling; sensitive; also, readily moved or affected by natural agents; as, a sensible thermometer.
Sense 4. Perceiving or having perception, either by the senses or the mind; cognizant; perceiving so clearly as to be convinced; satisfied; persuaded.
A man can not think at any time, waking or sleeping, without being sensible of it. Locke.
They are now sensible it would have been better to comply than to refuse. Addison.
Sense 5. Having moral perception; capable of being affected by moral good or evil.
If thou wert sensible of courtesy, I should not make so great a show of zeal. Shak.
Sense 6. Possessing or containing sense or reason; gifted with, or characterized by, good or common sense; intelligent; understanding; wise. “Now a sensible man, by and by a fool.” Shak.
He addressed Claudius in the following sensible and noble speech. Henry.
Sensible note or tone (Mus.), the 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.
Synonyms— Intelligent; wise. — SENSIBLE, INTELLIGENT. We call a man sensible whose judgments and conduct are marked and governed by sound judgment or good common sense. 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 distinctions. 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. “We trace the footsteps of a wise and intelligent architect throughout all this stupendous fabric.” Woodford.