[sen.si.ble] adj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L sensibilis, fr. sensus, pp. of sentire to feel] (14c) 1: of a kind to be felt or perceived: as a: perceptible to the senses or to reason or understanding "felt a ~ chill" "her distress was ~ from her manner" b archaic: perceptibly large: considerable c (1): perceptible as real or material: substantial "the ~ world in which we live" (2): of a kind to arouse emotional response "his whipping was a ~ expression of his father's anger"
2. a: capable of receiving sensory impressions "~ to pain" b: receptive to ex ternal influences: sensitive "the most ~ reaches of the spirit" 3 a: perceiving through the senses or mind: cognizant "~ of the increasing heat"; also: convinced by perceived evidence: satisfied "~ of my error" b: emotionally aware and responsive "we are ~ of your problems" c: conscious
4: having, containing, or indicative of good sense or reason: rational, reasonable "~ people" "made a ~ answer" syn see material, perceptible, aware, wise -- sen.si.ble.ness n -- sen.si.bly adv
[2]sensible n (1589): something that can be sensed