insensible

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Middle English insensible, from Old French insensible, from Late Latin īnsēnsibilis.

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /ɪnˈsɛns.ɪ.bəl/, [ɪnˈsɛn̥sɪbl̩]
  • Hyphenation: in‧sen‧si‧ble

Adjective

[edit]

insensible (comparative more insensible, superlative most insensible)

  1. Unable to be perceived by the senses.
    • 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: [], 2nd edition, London: [] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, [], →OCLC:
      Two small and almost insensible pricks were found upon Cleopatra's arm.
    • 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. [], London: [] Jacob Tonson, [], →OCLC:
      They fall away, / And languish with insensible decay.
  2. Incapable or deprived of physical sensation.
    • 1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Fate of the Artemis”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020:
      [] Captain Markam had been found lying half-insensible, gagged and bound, on the floor of the sitting-room, his hands and feet tightly pinioned, and a woollen comforter wound closely round his mouth and neck ; whilst Mrs. Markham's jewel-case, containing valuable jewellery and the secret plans of Port Arthur, had disappeared. []
    • 2023 December 27, David Turner, “Silent lines...”, in RAIL, number 999, page 29:
      The Leicester Daily Mercury reflected on how these concerns were the result of changing ways of getting around: "It might sound a bit crazy or just a little revolting that at Christmas works parties, some should drink themselves into a near-insensible state... This was not serious when they used public transport, but today more men and women use their own cars."
  3. Unable to be understood; unintelligible.
  4. Not sensible or reasonable; meaningless.
    • 1736, Matthew Hale, Historia Placitorum Coronæ:
      If it make the indictment be insensible or uncertain, [] it shall be quashed.
  5. Incapable of mental feeling; indifferent.
    • 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. [], London: [] Jacob Tonson, [], →OCLC:
      Lost in their loves, insensible of shame.
    • 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], Pride and Prejudice: [], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: [] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, [], →OCLC:
      In spite of her deep-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man's affection []
  6. Incapable of emotional feeling; callous; apathetic.
    Synonym: insensitive

Antonyms

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]
[edit]

Translations

[edit]

French

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Inherited from Old French insensible, from Late Latin īnsēnsibilis.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Adjective

[edit]

insensible (plural insensibles)

  1. insensible
  2. impervious
  3. unperceivable, imperceptible
    Synonym: imperceptible

Derived terms

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]

Spanish

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Borrowed from Late Latin īnsēnsibilis.

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /insenˈsible/ [ĩn.sẽnˈsi.β̞le]
  • Rhymes: -ible
  • Syllabification: in‧sen‧si‧ble

Adjective

[edit]

insensible m or f (masculine and feminine plural insensibles)

  1. insensible, insensitive, callous, cold, tactless
    Antonym: sensible

Derived terms

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]