Main Entry: ¹feel·ing

Pronunciation: \ˈfē-liŋ\

Function: noun

Date: 12th century

1 a (1) : the one of the basic physical senses of which the skin contains the chief end organs and of which the sensations of touch and temperature are characteristic : touch (2) : a sensation experienced through this sense b : generalized bodily consciousness or sensation c : appreciative or responsive awareness or recognition
2 a : an emotional state or reaction <a kindly feeling toward the boy> b plural : susceptibility to impression : sensitivity <the remark hurt her feelings>
3 a : the undifferentiated background of one's awareness considered apart from any identifiable sensation, perception, or thought b : the overall quality of one's awareness c : conscious recognition : sense
4 a : often unreasoned opinion or belief : sentiment b : presentiment
5 : capacity to respond emotionally especially with the higher emotions
6 : the character ascribed to something : atmosphere
7 a : the quality of a work of art that conveys the emotion of the artist b : sympathetic aesthetic response
8 : feel 4

synonyms feeling, emotion, affection, sentiment, passion mean a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation. feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it <the feelings that once moved me are gone>. emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses <the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence>. affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings <a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family>. sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea <her feminist sentiments are well known>. passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion <revenge became his ruling passion>.