sensible

Forms

sensible (plural sensibles)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin sēnsibilis (“perceptible by the senses”), formed on sēnsum, the supine of sentiō (“to feel, perceive”).^[2][3][4] The classical word was passive, “that can be felt”; the active sense “that can feel” arose later in Latin, in the Imperial period according to the TLFi and in Medieval Latin according to the DHLF and the Grand Robert.^[2][4][5]

Compare Spanish sensible and Italian sensibile.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears about 1265 in Brunetto Latini's Tresor, in ame sensible “the sensitive soul”, the soul able to receive physical impressions, as opposed to the rational soul: “Vertuz morel, qui apartient à l'ame sensible” (moral virtue, which belongs to the sensitive soul).^[2][4][6]

Semantic evolution

In the 14th century the adjective was used of any living being able to feel, and in surgery of a nerve (Henri de Mondeville, 1314).^[4][2] Following the rational value of Latin sensus, it also meant “intelligent” (1365) and, in law, “having legal capacity”, and in the 15th century it described a reasonable act, as sensé does now.^[4][7] The passive sense of classical Latin, “perceived by the senses”, is recorded from about 1320.^[2][4]

From 1559 it described what is easily perceived, hence “large enough to be noticed, appreciable”, and a person able to feel deeply.^[4][2] The classical age added “painfully felt” (1580, Montaigne), “easily moved” (1643, Corneille) and sensible à “responsive to” (1640), which drove out sensible sur (1671).^[2][4] In the 18th century the homme sensible became an ideal, replacing the honnête homme of the 17th, and Bloch and Wartburg note the new value “having human feelings”.^[4][7]

Technical senses followed: in music accord sensible (1751) and note sensible (1752), shortened to la sensible, the leading tone; in physics, of an instrument showing the slightest differences (1751); in photography plaque sensible (1876).^[2][4] Littré notes that the English word sensible means “intelligent”, a sense it kept from Old French.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 1265 – Ame sensible in Brunetto Latini's Tresor.^[2][4]
• 1314 – Henri de Mondeville uses it of a nerve.^[2]
• c. 1320 – First record of “perceptible by the senses”.^[2]
• 1365 – Used for “intelligent”.^[4]
• 1559 – Amyot uses it for “readily accessible to ideas” and for “noticeable”.^[2][4]
• 1580 – Montaigne uses it for “painfully felt”.^[2]
• 1643 – Corneille uses it for “easily moved”.^[2]
• 1677 – Endroit sensible, a sore spot, in Racine.^[3][4]
• 1752 – D'Alembert uses note sensible in music.^[2][4]
• 1782 – The derivative sensiblerie is recorded.^[7][4]
• 1876 – Plaque sensible in photography.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Able to feel sensations and perceive impressions: les êtres sensibles.^[8][2]
2. Sensible à: responsive to, able to perceive: Cet animal est sensible au froid.^[8][4]
3. Tender, painful at the slightest touch;^[8][4] endroit sensible, a sore spot.^[8][4]
4. Easily moved; sensitive, quick to feel emotion or sympathy: un enfant très sensible.^[8][2][6]
5. Perceptible by the senses;^[2][4] (philosophy) belonging to the world known through the senses.^[2][4]
6. Noticeable, appreciable: Les ventes ont connu une hausse sensible.^[2][4]
7. Of an instrument, reacting to the slightest variation: une balance sensible.^[2][4]
8. (photography) Reacting to light: plaque sensible.^[4]

Noun

1. (music) The leading tone, the seventh degree of the scale: la sensible.^[1][4]

Word family

• sensiblerie
• désensibiliser
• sensiblement
• hypersensible

Related words

• sensibilité
• insensible
• sentir
• sensé
• Latin sēnsibilis
• English sensible

Usage notes

La sensible (feminine) is short for la note sensible.^[1][4]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z 27 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert