Advertisement

sensible (adj.)

late 14c., "capable of sensation or feeling;" also "capable of being sensed or felt, perceptible to the senses," hence "easily understood; logical, reasonable," from Late Latin sensibilis "having feeling: perceptible by the senses," from sensus, past participle of sentire "perceive, feel" (see sense (n.)). Of persons, "aware, cognizant (of something)" early 15c.; "having good sense, capable of reasoning, discerning, clever," mid-15c. Of clothes, shoes, etc., "practical rather than fashionable" it is attested from 1855.

Other Middle English senses included "susceptible to injury or pain" (early 15c., now gone with sensitive); "worldly, temporal, outward" (c. 1400); "carnal, unspiritual" (early 15c., now gone with sensual). Related: Sensibleness.

Others are reading

Advertisement
Definitions of sensible from WordNet

sensible (adj.)
able to feel or perceive;
the more sensible parts of the skin
even amoeba are sensible creatures
Synonyms: sensitive
sensible (adj.)
readily perceived by the senses;
a sensible odor
the sensible universe
sensible (adj.)
aware intuitively or intellectually of something sensed; "I am sensible that the mention of such a circumstance may appear trifling"- Henry Hallam; "sensible that a good deal more is still to be done"- Edmund Burke;
made sensible of his mistakes
sensible (adj.)
showing reason or sound judgment;
a sensible choice
a sensible person
Synonyms: reasonable
From wordnet.princeton.edu