sense English · revision 3520

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1382 (Wycliffe Bible)|origins=la sentīre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sens/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sense]], [[bor|fro|sens|t=one of the five senses; meaning; wit, understanding]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) and directly from [[la|sēnsus|t=perception, feeling, understanding, meaning]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|sentīre|t=to perceive, feel, know]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) Etymonline, after Watkins, suggests that this is a figurative use of a literal “find one's way, go mentally”, from [[ine-pro|*sent-|t=to go]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the source also of Old High German [[m|goh|sinnan|t=to go, travel, strive after, perceive]] and German [[m|de|Sinn|t=sense, mind]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[sentiment]], [[sensible]], [[sensation]] and [[send]].^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Meaning, signification, especially of Holy Scripture: before 1382, in the Wycliffe Bible,^(Barnhart 1988) or the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “The faculty of perception” is from about 1400,^(Etymonline) and each of the outward senses, such as sight or hearing, from the 1520s^(Etymonline) or 1526.^(OED 1989) They are usually reckoned as five, sometimes with a “muscular” and an “inner” sense added to make seven, hence the old phrase ''the seven senses'', “consciousness in its totality”.^(Etymonline) An instinctive faculty of perception or estimation, as in ''a sense of direction'', is from 1567.^(OED 1989) ''The senses'' as channels of physical pleasure are from 1597.^(OED 1989) “That which is wise or sensible” is from about 1600.^(Etymonline) The verb meant “to perceive by the senses” from the 1590s^(Etymonline) or about 1531,^(MWU 2024) “to be conscious of an inward state” from the 1680s,^(Etymonline) and “to become aware of without direct perception” from 1872.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Of a machine, “to detect”, it is from 1946.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1382 – meaning (Wycliffe Bible).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – the faculty of perception.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1520s – one of the bodily senses.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1567 – an instinctive faculty.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – verb, to perceive.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – good judgement.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1872 – verb, to become aware of.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1946 – verb, of a machine, to detect.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of the faculties, such as sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, by which stimuli are perceived.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A feeling or perception: ''a sense of danger''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # An ability to understand or appreciate: ''a sense of humour''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Sound judgement; [[intelligence]]: ''common sense''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(senses)'' Normal powers of mind: ''come to one's senses''.^(AHD)

+ # A meaning of a word or expression.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A general opinion: ''the sense of the meeting''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To become aware of; to [[perceive]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To grasp, understand.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To detect automatically, as an instrument does.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonsense]]

+ * [[antisense]]

+ * [[senseful]]

+ * [[senseless]]

+ * [[sensory]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[extrasensory]]

+ * [[sensation]]

+ * [[sensible]]

+ * [[sensitive]]

+ * [[sensor]]

+ * [[sensorium]]

+ * [[sensual]]

+ * [[sensuous]]

+ * [[sentiment]]

+ * [[sentence]]

+ * [[consensus]]

+ * [[send]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}