n. 1. The sense by which the mind, through certain nerves of the body, perceives external objects, or certain states of the body itself; that one of the five senses which resides in the general nerves of sensation distributed over the body, especially in its surface; the sense of touch; nervous sensibility to external objects. [ 1913 Webster ] Why was the sight
To such a tender ball as the eye confined, . . .
And not, as feeling, through all parts diffused? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. An act or state of perception by the sense above described; an act of apprehending any object whatever; an act or state of apprehending the state of the soul itself; consciousness. [ 1913 Webster ] The apprehension of the good
Gives but the greater feeling to the worse. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. The capacity of the soul for emotional states; a high degree of susceptibility to emotions or states of the sensibility not dependent on the body; as, a man of feeling; a man destitute of feeling. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Any state or condition of emotion; the exercise of the capacity for emotion; any mental state whatever; as, a right or a wrong feeling in the heart; our angry or kindly feelings; a feeling of pride or of humility. [ 1913 Webster ] A fellow feeling makes one wondrous kind. Garrick. [ 1913 Webster ] Tenderness for the feelings of others. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. That quality of a work of art which embodies the mental emotion of the artist, and is calculated to affect similarly the spectator. Fairholt. Syn. -- Sensation; emotion; passion; sentiment; agitation; opinion. See Emotion, Passion, Sentiment. [ 1913 Webster ] | 