Chapter 31

Common sense, according to Sir W. Hamilton: (a) "The complement of those cognitions or convictions which we receive from nature, which all men possess in common, and by which they test the truth of knowledge and the morality of actions." (b) "The faculty of first principles." These two are the philosophical significations. (c) "Such ordinary complement of intelligence, that,if a person be deficient therein, he is accounted mad or foolish." (d) When the substantive is emphasized: "Native practical intelligence, natural prudence, mother wit, tact in behavior, acuteness in the observation of character, in contrast to habits of acquired learning or of speculation." -- Moral sense. See under Moral, (a). -- The inner, or internal, sense, capacity of the mind to be aware of its own states; consciousness; reflection. "This source of ideas every man has wholly in himself, and though it be not sense, as having nothing to do with external objects, yet it is very like it, and might properly enough be called internal sense." Locke. -- Sense capsule (Anat.), one of the cartilaginous or bony cavities which inclose, more or less completely, the organs of smell, sight, and hearing. -- Sense organ (Physiol.), a specially irritable mechanism by which some one natural force or form of energy is enabled to excite sensory nerves; as the eye, ear, an end bulb or tactile corpuscle, etc. - - Sense organule (Anat.), one of the modified epithelial cells in or near which the fibers of the sensory nerves terminate.

Syn. -- Understanding; reason. -- Sense, Understanding, Reason. Some philosophers have given a technical signification to these terms, which may here be stated. Sense is the mind's acting in the direct cognition either of material objects or of its own mental states. In the first case it is called the outer, in the second the inner, sense. Understanding is the logical faculty, i. e., the power of apprehending under general conceptions, or the power of classifying, arranging, and making deductions. Reason is the power of apprehending those first or fundamental truths or principles which are the conditions of all real and scientific knowledge, and which control the mind in all its processes of investigation and deduction. These distinctions are given, not as established, but simply because they often occur in writers of the present day.

Sense (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sensed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sensing.] To perceive by the senses; to recognize. [Obs. or Colloq.]

Is he sure that objects are not otherwise sensed by others than they are by him?

Glanvill.

Sense"ful (?), a. Full of sense, meaning, or reason; reasonable; judicious. [R.] "Senseful speech." Spenser. "Men, otherwise senseful and ingenious." Norris.

Sense"less, a. Destitute of, deficient in, or contrary to, sense; without sensibility or feeling; unconscious; stupid; foolish; unwise; unreasonable.

You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things.

Shak.

The ears are senseless that should give us hearing.

Shak.

The senseless grave feels not your pious sorrows.

Rowe.

They were a senseless, stupid race.

Swift.

They would repent this their senseless perverseness when it would be too late.

Clarendon.

--- Sense"less*ly, adv. -- Sense"less*ness, n.

Sen`si*bil"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Sensibilities (#). [Cf. F. sensibilité, LL. sensibilitas.] 1. (Physiol.) The quality or state of being sensible, or capable of sensation; capacity to feel or perceive.

2. The capacity of emotion or feeling, as distinguished from the intellect and the will; peculiar susceptibility of impression, pleasurable or painful; delicacy of feeling; quick emotion or sympathy; as, sensibility to pleasure or pain; sensibility to shame or praise; exquisite sensibility; - - often used in the plural. "Sensibilities so fine!" Cowper.

The true lawgiver ought to have a heart full of sensibility.

Burke.

His sensibilities seem rather to have been those of patriotism than of wounded pride.

Marshall.

3. Experience of sensation; actual feeling.

This adds greatly to my sensibility.

Burke.

4. That quality of an instrument which makes it indicate very slight changes of condition; delicacy; as, the sensibility of a balance, or of a thermometer.

Syn. -- Taste; susceptibility; feeling. See Taste.

Sen"si*ble (?), a. [F., fr. L. sensibilis, fr. sensus sense.] 1. Capable of being perceived by the senses; apprehensible through the bodily organs; hence, also, perceptible to the mind; making an impression upon the sense, reason, or understanding; &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?; heat; sensible resistance.

Air is sensible to the touch by its motion.

Arbuthnot.

The disgrace was more sensible than the pain.

Sir W. Temple.

Any very sensible effect upon the prices of things.

A. Smith.

2. Having the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; capable of perceiving by the instrumentality of the proper organs; liable to be affected physsically or mentally; impressible.

Would your cambric were sensible as your finger.

Shak.

3. Hence: Liable to impression from without; easily affected; having nice perception or acute feeling; sensitive; also, readily moved or affected by natural agents; delicate; as, a sensible thermometer. "With affection wondrous sensible." Shak.

4. Perceiving or having perception, either by the senses or the mind; cognizant; perceiving so clearly as to be convinced; satisfied; persuaded.

He [man] can not think at any time, waking or sleeping, without being sensible of it.

Locke.

They are now sensible it would have been better to comply than to refuse.

Addison.

5. Having moral perception; capable of being affected by moral good or evil.

6. Possessing or containing sense or reason; giftedwith, or characterized by, good or common sense; intelligent; wise.

Now a sensible man, by and by a fool.

Shak.

Sensible note or tone (Mus.), the major seventh note of any scale; -- so called because, being but a half step below the octave, or key tone, and naturally leading up to that, it makes the ear sensible of its approaching sound. Called also the leading tone. -- Sensible horizon. See Horizon, n., 2. (a).

Syn. -- Intelligent; wise. -- Sensible, Intelligent. We call a man sensible whose judgments and conduct are marked and governed by sound judgment or good common semse. We call one intelligent who is quick and clear in his understanding, i. e., who discriminates readily and nicely in respect to difficult and important distinction. The sphere of the sensible man lies in matters of practical concern; of the intelligent man, in subjects of intellectual interest. "I have been tired with accounts from sensible men, furnished with matters of fact which have happened within their own knowledge." Addison. "Trace out numerous footsteps . . . of a most wise and intelligent architect throughout all this stupendous fabric." Woodward.

Sen"si*ble (?), n. 1. Sensation; sensibility. [R.] "Our temper changed . . . which must needs remove the sensible of pain." Milton.

2. That which impresses itself on the sense; anything perceptible.

Aristotle distinguished sensibles into common and proper.

Krauth-Fleming.

3. That which has sensibility; a sensitive being. [R.]

This melancholy extends itself not to men only, but even to vegetals and sensibles.

Burton.

Sen"si*ble*ness, n. 1. The quality or state of being sensible; sensibility; appreciation; capacity of perception; susceptibility. "The sensibleness of the eye." Sharp. "Sensibleness and sorrow for sin." Hammond.

The sensibleness of the divine presence.

Hallywell.

2. Intelligence; reasonableness; good sense.

Sen"si*bly, adv. 1. In a sensible manner; so as to be perceptible to the senses or to the mind; appreciably; with perception; susceptibly; sensitively.

What remains past cure, Bear not too sensibly.

Milton.

2. With intelligence or good sense; judiciously.

Sen`si*fa"cient (?), a. [L. sensus sense + facere to make.] Converting into sensation. Huxley.

Sen*sif"er*ous (?), a. [L. sensifer; sensus sense + ferre to bear.] Exciting sensation; conveying sensation. Huxley.

Sen*sif"ic (?), a. [L. sensificus; sensus sense + facere to make.] Exciting sensation.

Sen*sif"i*ca*to*ry (?), a. Susceptible of, or converting into, sensation; as, the sensificatory part of a nervous system. Huxley.

Sen*sig"e*nous (?), a. [L. sensus sense + -genous.] Causing or exciting sensation. Huxley.

Sens"ism (?), n. Same as Sensualism, 2 & 3.

Sens"ist, n. One who, in philosophy, holds to sensism.

Sen"si*tive (?), a. [F. sensitif. See Sense.] 1. Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; as, a sensitive soul.

2. Having quick and acute sensibility, either to the action of external objects, or to impressions upon the mind and feelings; highly susceptible; easily and acutely affected.

She was too sensitive to abuse and calumny.

Macaulay.

3. (a) (Mech.) Having a capacity of being easily affected or moved; as, a sensitive thermometer; sensitive scales. (b) (Chem. & Photog.) Readily affected or changed by certain appropriate agents; as, silver chloride or bromide, when in contact with certain organic substances, is extremely sensitive to actinic rays.

4. Serving to affect the sense; sensible. [R.]

A sensitive love of some sensitive objects.

Hammond.

5. Of or pertaining to sensation; depending on sensation; as, sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation. E. Darwin.

Sensitive fern (Bot.), an American fern (Onoclea sensibilis), the leaves of which, when plucked, show a slight tendency to fold together. -- Sensitive flame (Physics), a gas flame so arranged that under a suitable adjustment of pressure it is exceedingly sensitive to sounds, being caused to roar, flare, or become suddenly shortened or extinguished, by slight sounds of the proper pitch. -- Sensitive joint vetch (Bot.), an annual leguminous herb (Æschynomene hispida), with sensitive foliage. -- Sensitive paper, paper prepared for photographic purpose by being rendered sensitive to the effect of light. -- Sensitive plant. (Bot.) (a) A leguminous plant (Mimosa pudica, or M. sensitiva, and other allied species), the leaves of which close at the slightest touch. (b) Any plant showing motions after irritation, as the sensitive brier (Schrankia) of the Southern States, two common American species of Cassia (C. nictitans, and C. Chamæcrista), a kind of sorrel (Oxalis sensitiva), etc.

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-- Sen"si*tive*ly (#), adv. -- Sen"si*tive*ness, n.

Sen`si*tiv"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being sensitive; -- used chiefly in science and the arts; as, the sensitivity of iodized silver.

Sensitivity and emotivity have also been used as the scientific term for the capacity of feeling.

Hickok.

Sen"si*tize (?), v. t. (Photog.) To render sensitive, or susceptible of being easily acted on by the actinic rays of the sun; as, sensitized paper or plate.

Sen"si*ti`zer (?), n. (Photog.) An agent that sensitizes.

The sensitizer should be poured on the middle of the sheet.

Wilis & Clements (The Platinotype).

Sen"si*to*ry (?), n. See Sensory.

Sens"ive (?), a. Having sense or sensibility; sensitive. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

Sen"sor (?), a. Sensory; as, the sensor nerves.

Sen*so"ri*al (?), a. [Cf. F. sensorial. See Sensorium.] Of or pertaining to the sensorium; as, sensorial faculties, motions, powers. A. Tucker.

Sen*so"ri*um (?), n.; pl. E. Sensoriums (#), L. Sensoria (#). [L., fr. sentire, sensum, to discern or perceive by the senses.] (Physiol.) The seat of sensation; the nervous center or centers to which impressions from the external world must be conveyed before they can be perceived; the place where external impressions are localized, and transformed into sensations, prior to being reflected to other parts of the organism; hence, the whole nervous system, when animated, so far as it is susceptible of common or special sensations.

Sen*so`ri-vo*li"tion*al (?), a. (Physiol.) Concerned both in sensation and volition; -- applied to those nerve fibers which pass to and from the cerebro- spinal axis, and are respectively concerned in sensation and volition. Dunglison.

Sen"so*ry (?), n.; pl. Sensories (&?;). (Physiol.) Same as Sensorium.

Sen"so*ry, a. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to the sensorium or sensation; as, sensory impulses; -- especially applied to those nerves and nerve fibers which convey to a nerve center impulses resulting in sensation; also sometimes loosely employed in the sense of afferent, to indicate nerve fibers which convey impressions of any kind to a nerve center.

Sen"su*al (?), a. [L. sensualis, from sensus sense: cf. F. sensuel.] 1. Pertaining to, consisting in, or affecting, the sense, or bodily organs of perception; relating to, or concerning, the body, in distinction from the spirit.

Pleasing and sensual rites and ceremonies.

Bacon.

Far as creation's ample range extends, The scale of sensual, mental powers ascends.

Pope.

2. Hence, not spiritual or intellectual; carnal; fleshly; pertaining to, or consisting in, the gratification of the senses, or the indulgence of appetites; wordly.

These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Jude 19.

The greatest part of men are such as prefer . . . that good which is sensual before whatsoever is most divine.

Hooker.

3. Devoted to the pleasures of sense and appetite; luxurious; voluptuous; lewd; libidinous.

No small part of virtue consists in abstaining from that wherein sensual men place their felicity.

Atterbury.

4. Pertaining or peculiar to the philosophical doctrine of sensualism.

Sen"su*al*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. sensualisme.] 1. The condition or character of one who is sensual; subjection to sensual feelings and appetite; sensuality.

2. (Philos.) The doctrine that all our ideas, or the operations of the understanding, not only originate in sensation, but are transformed sensations, copies or relics of sensations; sensationalism; sensism.

3. (Ethics) The regarding of the gratification of the senses as the highest good. Krauth- Fleming.

Sen"su*al*ist, n. [CF. F. sensualiste.] 1. One who is sensual; one given to the indulgence of the appetites or senses as the means of happiness.

2. One who holds to the doctrine of sensualism.

Sen`su*al*is"tic (?), a. 1. Sensual.

2. Adopting or teaching the doctrines of sensualism.

Sen`su*al"i*ty (?), n. [CF. F. sensualité, L. sensualitas sensibility, capacity for sensation.] The quality or state of being sensual; devotedness to the gratification of the bodily appetites; free indulgence in carnal or sensual pleasures; luxuriousness; voluptuousness; lewdness.

Those pampered animals That rage in savage sensuality.

Shak.

They avoid dress, lest they should have affections tainted by any sensuality.

Addison.

Sen`su*al*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of sensualizing, or the state of being sensualized.

Sen"su*al*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sensualized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sensualizing (?).] To make sensual; to subject to the love of sensual pleasure; to debase by carnal gratifications; to carnalize; as, sensualized by pleasure. Pope.

By the neglect of prayer, the thoughts are sensualized.

T. H. Skinner.

Sen"su*al*ly, adv. In a sensual manner.

Sen"su*al*ness, n. Sensuality; fleshliness.

Sen"su*ism (?), n. Sensualism.

Sen`su*os"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being sensuous; sensuousness. [R.]

Sen"su*ous (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to the senses, or sensible objects; addressing the senses; suggesting pictures or images of sense.

To this poetry would be made precedent, as being less subtle and fine, but more simple, sensuous, and passionate.

Milton.

2. Highly susceptible to influence through the senses.

-- Sen"su*ous*ly (#), adv. -- Sen"su*ous*ness, n.

Sent (?), v. & n. See Scent, v. & n. [Obs.] Spenser.

Sent, obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Send, for sendeth.

Sent, imp. & p. p. of Send.

Sen"tence (?), n. [F., from L. sententia, for sentientia, from sentire to discern by the senses and the mind, to feel, to think. See Sense, n., and cf. Sentiensi.] 1. Sense; meaning; significance. [Obs.]

Tales of best sentence and most solace.

Chaucer.

The discourse itself, voluble enough, and full of sentence.

Milton.

2. (a) An opinion; a decision; a determination; a judgment, especially one of an unfavorable nature.

My sentence is for open war.

Milton.

That by them [Luther's works] we may pass sentence upon his doctrines.

Atterbury.

(b) A philosophical or theological opinion; a dogma; as, Summary of the Sentences; Book of the Sentences.

3. (Law) In civil and admiralty law, the judgment of a court pronounced in a cause; in criminal and ecclesiastical courts, a judgment passed on a criminal by a court or judge; condemnation pronounced by a judgical tribunal; doom. In common law, the term is exclusively used to denote the judgment in criminal cases.

Received the sentence of the law.

Shak.

4. A short saying, usually containing moral instruction; a maxim; an axiom; a saw. Broome.

5. (Gram.) A combination of words which is complete as expressing a thought, and in writing is marked at the close by a period, or full point. See Proposition, 4.

Sentences are simple or compound. A simple sentence consists of one subject and one finite verb; as, "The Lord reigns." A compound sentence contains two or more subjects and finite verbs, as in this verse: -

He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals all.

Pope.

Dark sentence, a saving not easily explained.

A king . . . understanding dark sentences.

Dan. vii. 23.

Sen"tence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sentenced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sentencing (?).] 1. To pass or pronounce judgment upon; to doom; to condemn to punishment; to prescribe the punishment of.

Nature herself is sentenced in your doom.

Dryden.

2. To decree or announce as a sentence. [Obs.] Shak.

3. To utter sententiously. [Obs.] Feltham.

Sen"ten*cer (?), n. One who pronounced a sentence or condemnation.

sen*ten"tial (?), a. 1. Comprising sentences; as, a sentential translation. Abp. Newcome.

2. Of or pertaining to a sentence, or full period; as, a sentential pause.

Sen*ten"tial*ly, adv. In a sentential manner.

Sen*ten"ti*a*rist (?), n. A sententiary. Barnas Sears (Life of Luther).

Sen*ten"ti*ary (?), n. [LL. sententiarius.] One who read lectures, or commented, on the Sentences of Peter Lombard, Bishop of Paris (1159-1160), a school divine. R. Henry.

Sen*ten`ti*os"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being sententious. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Sen*ten"tious (?), a.[L. sentenciosus: cf. F. sentencieux.] 1. Abounding with sentences, axioms, and maxims; full of meaning; terse and energetic in expression; pithy; as, a sententious style or discourse; sententious truth.

How he apes his sire, Ambitiously sententious!

Addison.

2. Comprising or representing sentences; sentential. [Obs.] "Sententious marks." Grew.

--- Sen*ten"tious*ly, adv. -- Sen*ten"tious*ness, n.

Sen"ter*y (?), n. A sentry. [Obs.] Milton.

Sen"teur (?), n. [F.] Scent. [Obs.] Holland.

{ Sen"ti*ence (?), Sen"ti*en*cy (?), } n. [See Sentient, Sentence.] The quality or state of being sentient; esp., the quality or state of having sensation. G. H. Lewes

An example of harmonious action between the intelligence and the sentieny of the mind.

Earle.

Sen"ti*ent (?), a. [L. sentiens, -entis, p. pr. of sentire to discern or perceive by the senses. See Sense.] Having a faculty, or faculties, of sensation and perception. Specif. (Physiol.), especially sensitive; as, the sentient extremities of nerves, which terminate in the various organs or tissues.

Sen"ti*ent, n. One who has the faculty of perception; a sentient being.

Sen"ti*ent*ly, adv. In a sentient or perceptive way.

Sen"ti*ment (?), n. [OE. sentement, OF. sentement, F. sentiment, fr. L. sentire to perceive by the senses and mind, to feel, to think. See Sentient, a.] 1. A thought prompted by passion or feeling; a state of mind in view of some subject; feeling toward or respecting some person or thing; disposition prompting to action or expression.

The word sentiment, agreeably to the use made of it by our best English writers, expresses, in my own opinion very happily, those complex determinations of the mind which result from the coöperation of our rational powers and of our moral feelings.

Stewart.

Alike to council or the assembly came, With equal souls and sentiments the same.

Pope.

2. Hence, generally, a decision of the mind formed by deliberation or reasoning; thought; opinion; notion; judgment; as, to express one's sentiments on a subject.

Sentiments of philosophers about the perception of external objects.

Reid.

Sentiment, as here and elsewhere employed by Reid in the meaning of opinion (sententia), is not to be imitated.

Sir W. Hamilton.

3. A sentence, or passage, considered as the expression of a thought; a maxim; a saying; a toast.

4. Sensibility; feeling; tender susceptibility.

Mr. Hume sometimes employs (after the manner of the French metaphysicians) sentiment as synonymous with feeling; a use of the word quite unprecedented in our tongue.

Stewart.

Less of sentiment than sense.

Tennyson.

Syn. -- Thought; opinion; notion; sensibility; feeling. -- Sentiment, Opinion, Feeling. An opinion is an intellectual judgment in respect to any and every kind of truth. Feeling describes those affections of pleasure and pain which spring from the exercise of our sentient and emotional powers. Sentiment (particularly in the plural) lies between them, denoting settled opinions or principles in regard to subjects which interest the feelings strongly, and are presented more or less constantly in practical life. Hence, it is more appropriate to speak of our religious sentiments than opinions, unless we mean to exclude all reference to our feelings. The word sentiment, in the singular, leans ordinarily more to the side of feeling, and denotes a refined sensibility on subjects affecting the heart. "On questions of feeling, taste, observation, or report, we define our sentiments. On questions of science, argument, or metaphysical abstraction, we define our opinions. The sentiments of the heart. The opinions of the mind . . . There is more of instinct in sentiment, and more of definition in opinion. The admiration of a work of art which results from first impressions is classed with our sentiments; and, when we have accounted to ourselves for the approbation, it is classed with our opinions." W. Taylor.

Sen`ti*men"tal (?), a. [Cf. F. sentimental.] 1. Having, expressing, or containing a sentiment or sentiments; abounding with moral reflections; containing a moral reflection; didactic. [Obsoles.]

Nay, ev'n each moral sentimental stroke, Where not the character, but poet, spoke, He lopped, as foreign to his chaste design, Nor spared a useless, though a golden line.

Whitehead.

2. Inclined to sentiment; having an excess of sentiment or sensibility; indulging the sensibilities for their own sake; artificially or affectedly tender; -- often in a reproachful sense.

A sentimental mind is rather prone to overwrought feeling and exaggerated tenderness.

Whately.

3. Addressed or pleasing to the emotions only, usually to the weaker and the unregulated emotions.