Sen`si*bil"i*ty (?), n.; pl.
Sensibilities (#). [Cf. F.
sensibilité, LL. sensibilitas.]
1. (Physiol.) The quality or state of
being sensible, or capable of sensation; capacity to feel or
perceive.
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.
The true lawgiver ought to have a heart full of
sensibility.
Burke.
His sensibilities seem rather to have been those
of patriotism than of wounded pride.
Marshall.
3. Experience of sensation; actual
feeling.
This adds greatly to my
sensibility.
Burke.
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.
Syn. -- Taste; susceptibility; feeling. See
Taste.
Sen`si*bil"i*ty (?), n.; pl.
Sensibilities (#). [Cf. F.
sensibilité, LL. sensibilitas.]
1. (Physiol.) The quality or state of
being sensible, or capable of sensation; capacity to feel or
perceive.
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.
The true lawgiver ought to have a heart full of
sensibility.
Burke.
His sensibilities seem rather to have been those
of patriotism than of wounded pride.
Marshall.
3. Experience of sensation; actual
feeling.
This adds greatly to my
sensibility.
Burke.
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.
Syn. -- Taste; susceptibility; feeling. See
Taste.
