/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 consciousness or appreciation.
4. sensibilities , emotional capacities.
5. Sometimes, sensibilities . liability to feel hurt or offended; sensitive feelings.
6. Often, sensibilities . capacity for intellectual and aesthetic distinctions, feelings, tastes, etc.: a man of refined sensibilities.
7. the property, as in plants or instruments, of being readily affected by external influences.
[ 1325-75; ME sensibilite sensibilitas. See SENSIBLE, -ITY ]
Syn. 1. SENSIBILITY, SUSCEPTIBILITY, SENSITIVENESS, SENSITIVITY refer to capacity to respond to or be affected by something. SENSIBILITY is, particularly, capacity to respond to aesthetic and emotional stimuli: the sensibility of the artist. SUSCEPTIBILITY is the state or quality of being impressionable and responsive, esp. to emotional stimuli; in the plural it has much the same meaning as SENSIBILITY: a person of keen susceptibilities.
SENSITIVENESS is the state or quality of being sensitive, of having a capacity of sensation and of responding to external stimuli: sensitiveness to light. SENSITIVITY is a special capability of being sensitive to physiological, chemical action or a tendency to be easily affected by the adverse reactions of others: the sensitivity of a nerve; sensitivity to criticism. 2. alertness, awareness.