sensitive English · revision 5041

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1392|origins=la-med sensitivus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsen.sɪ.tɪv/, /ˈsen.sə.tɪv/, US /ˈsen.sə.t̬ɪv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sensitif]], [[bor|frm|sensitif]] and directly from [[la-med|sensitīvus|t=capable of sensation]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) formed irregularly from Latin sentīre “to feel, perceive”.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) It is related to [[sense]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Having sensation, of the body or its parts: 1392 in Barnhart, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) In scholastic philosophy, of the faculty of the soul that receives sense impressions, about 1400.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of or affecting the senses is by the 1520s (1530 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The ''sensitive plant'', a mimosa that folds its leaves when touched, is from 1633.^(OED 1989) The sense “easily affected, easily hurt by unkindness” is from Scott's Old Mortality in 1816;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the New Oxford dates the current senses to the early 19th century.^(NODE 1998) Of instruments, responding to very slight changes, it is by 1857,^(Etymonline) and the Cold War sense “involving national security” is by 1953.^(Etymonline) ''Sensitivity'' is from 1803.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1392 – having sensation.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1520s – affecting the senses.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1633 – the sensitive plant.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1816 – easily affected.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1857 – of instruments.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1953 – involving national security.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Aware of and understanding the feelings of others.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Easily hurt or upset.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Quickly affected by something: ''sensitive to light''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Able to measure very small changes.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Needing careful treatment because it may cause offence or involve secrets: ''a sensitive issue''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person believed to have [[psychic]] powers.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sensitively]]

+ * [[sensitiveness]]

+ * [[electrosensitive]]

+ * [[photosensitive]]

+ * [[radiosensitive]]

+ * [[sensitize]]

+ * [[supersensitive]]

+ * [[thermosensitive]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sense]]

+ * [[sensitivity]]

+ * [[sensible]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}