| 释义 |
sensitive, a. and n.|ˈsɛnsɪtɪv|
Forms: α. 5 sensitife, sensityf, 6 sensytyfe, sencitive, 7 sensetive, 5– sensitive. β. 6 censatyve, 6–8 sensative.
[a. F. sensitif, -ive (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. med.L. sensitīvus, irreg. f. L. sens-, ppl. stem of sentīre to feel. Cf. Sp., Pg., It. sensitivo. The β forms may possibly represent a med.L. *sensātīvus, related to sensātio, but it is not evident that sensitive and sensative were regarded as distinct words.]
A. adj.
1. a. Having the function of sensation or sensuous perception.
sensitive soul [med.L. anima sensitiva].: in scholastic philosophy, that one of the three kinds of ‘soul’ or of constituent parts of the soul which is concerned with sensation, and which is characteristic of animals; distinguished from the vegetative soul, which is common to animals with plants, and from the intellective soul, which in rational animals (men) is superadded to the two others. Similarly sensitive virtue [virtus sensitiva], the faculty of sensation.
αa1400–50Wars Alex. 4381 Þe faire floryscht filds of floures & of herbys, Quare-of þe breth as of bawme blawis in oure noose, Þat ilk sensitife saule mast souorly delyte. c1407Lydg. Reson & Sens. 698 God..Hath yove and graunted vnto man..Twoo maners of knowlychynge... The first..Called the vertu sensytif By which he feleth..Thinges..Which to forn him be present. c1449Pecock Repr. i. xiv. 74 Tho same treuthis whiche outward sensityue wittis knowen. 1531Elyot Gov. iii. xxiv. (1880) II. 371 An other parte [sc. of the soul], wherin man doth participate with all other thynges lyuynge, which is called sensitife, by reason that therof the sensis do procede. 1577tr. Bullinger's Decades iv. x. (1592) 755 For there is the soule vegetatiue which worketh in plants. There is the soule sensitiue which..giueth life to brute beastes. 1620T. Granger Div. Logike 109 Seeing, hearing, &c. are acts of the sensitiue powers. 1642H. More Song of Soul ii. i. ii. xxv, That we term Soul sensitive, I'll call't form bestiall. 1653― Antid. Ath. i. viii. §13 (1712) 24 Corporeal Matter is the proper Object of the sensitive Faculty. a1714Abp. Sharp Serm. Wks. 1754 IV. 142 The seat of the one is in the intellectual reasonable nature; the seat of the other is in the sensitive. 1732Pope Ess. on Man i. Argt, To possess any of the sensitive faculties in a higher degree, would render him miserable. 1769–90Sir J. Reynolds Disc. vii. (1876) 421 All arts have means within them of applying themselves with success both to the intellectual and sensitive part of our natures. 1801Med. Jrnl. V. 327 The sensitive power of the iris. a1806Bp. Horsley Serm. (1816) I. vii. 127 This spiritual sword of God's awful word..pierces to the very line of separation, as it were, of the sensitive and the intelligent principle. 1836Todd's Cycl. Anat. III. 720 H/2 These are called sensitive nerves or nerves of common sensation. a1881A. Barratt Phys. Metempiric (1883) 22 We may reasonably infer that of which we might be sensible..by a hypothetical extension of our sensitive powers.
β1548Vicary Anat. ii. (1888) 19 From the brayne commeth vij payre of Nerues sensatiues. 1594Plat Jewell-ho. ii. 16 Salt is no enemie either to the vegetatiue, or sensatiue natures. 1615Crooke Body of Man 288 In sleepe the sensatiue faculties are all at rest. 1656–63Bp. W. Lucy Observ. Hobbes 37 Yet there remains in the sensative memory that image, which represented the object at the first.
b. Of life, knowledge, perception (also formerly † of desires, feelings): Connected with the senses, sensuous. † Of objects: Perceptible by the senses.
α1530Rastell Purg. i. vi, The beest which hath a lyfe sensytyve. 1536Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. Cosmogr. Proheme 14 He that nold aganis his lustis strive But leiffis as beist of knawlege sensitive Eildis richt fast. 1608D. T[uvill] Ess. Pol. & Mor. 4 Beeing for the most part led to iudge of matters onely by a Sensitiue apprehension they haue of them. 1633–55Capel Tentations 11 Our sensitive love what follows the lower, and organical faculties of the soul. 1643Milton Divorce i. ii. 6 The sensitive pleasing of the body. 1650Baxter Saints' R. iii. xi. (1662) 461 The sensitive sinfull appetite and passion may prevail with the Will. 1660R. Coke Justice Vind. 7 The places of Scripture which testifie our Saviour's grief, sorrow, and fear: these passions being sensitive, do sufficiently convince that there was a sensual will in Christ. 1681–6J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 27 Hence it is that he so greedily prefers carnal before rational, and sensitive before spiritual Goods. 1690Locke Hum. Und. iv. iii. §5 Sensitive Knowledge reaching no farther than the Existence of Things actually present to our Senses, is yet much narrower than either of the former. 1690Norris Beatitudes (1694) I. 40 Once, indeed, 'tis said, that he rejoiced; but then it was not with an outward, sensitive and tumultuous Joy. 1707Curios. Husb. & Gard. 296 When a Plant becomes an Animal, it..rises into a higher Station, by acquiring a Sensitive Life. a1708Beveridge Priv. Th. i. (1730) 104 By loving God, I do not understand that sensitive Affection I place upon material Objects. 1877E. Caird Philos. Kant i. 174 Our sensitive perception of objects. 1889Courtney Mill 129 Beliefs..gathered out of the sensitive experience of his forefathers.
β1743N. Appleton Serm. 167 Our natural sensative Appetites and Desires.
†c. Of fever: Arising from sensation. Obs.
1794E. Darwin Zoon. I. 391 Other new motions are then superadded, in consequence of sensation, which we shall call febris sensitiva, or sensitive fever. Ibid. 392 These sensitive fevers, like the irritative ones, resolve themselves into [etc.].
2. Of living beings: Endowed with the faculty of sensation. Formerly often: † ‘Having sense or perception, but not reason’ (J., 1755).
α1555Eden Decades (Arb.) 131 We wyll nowe therefore entreate of thynges sencitiue. 1584R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. v. iv. (1886) 78 Our bodies are visible, sensitive, and passive. 1601Holland Pliny xii. Pref. I. 356 The natures as well in generall, as particularly in parts, of all living and sensitive creatures within the compasse of our knowledge. 1726Swift Gulliver iv. ii, As to those filthy Yahoos..I confess I never saw any sensitive being so detestable on all accounts. 1768Pennant Brit. Zool. I. Pref. 5 Our fish,..our insects, and the various other sensitive productions of this kingdom. 1794Paley Evid. Introd. (1800) I. 2 The Deity when he formed it consulted for the happiness of his sensitive creation. 1796H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) II. 381 It is only for beings vegetative and sensitive that Nature has created the fossil kingdom.
β1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xxxv. (Percy Soc.) 112 By these twayne every thyng hath growynge; Bothe vegitatyfe and censatyve also, And also intellectyve.
3. a. sensitive plant, † herb, † shrub, † tree, a shrub (Mimosa pudica, or M. sensitiva) possessing a high degree of irritability, causing the leaflets of the bipinnate leaves to fold together at the slightest touch (cf. humble-plant, sensible-plant); also applied with defining word to various plants possessing a similar quality, as † bastard sensitive plant (æschynomene americana); false sensitive plant (æ. hispida); American sensitive plant (Cassia nictitans), also called wild sensitive plant and sensitive pea (see pea 3).
In the original use of this designation, the adj. belongs to sense 2 (not to sense 5); cf. sensible a. 10.
1633Johnson Gerarde's Herbal App. vii. 1599 This which I here call the sensitiue herb is..Herba mimosa, or the Mocking herbe. 1658J. Jones Ovid's Ibis 45 Thus the sensitive tree if ye touch one leaf the whole tree will quake. 1659R. Lovell Herbal 524 Sensitive plant, Herba sensibilis. 1666J. Davies Hist. Caribby Isl. 64 A Sensitive-shrub valued at a very great rate. 1709Swift & Addison Tatler No. 32 ⁋2 She shrinks from the Touch like a Sensitive Plant. 1760J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 323 Plant, Bastard sensitive, æschynomene. 1782Cowper Poet, Oyster, & Sensit. Plant 22 When, cry the botanists—and stare—Did plants call'd sensitive grow there? 1820Shelley Sensit. Plant 1 A Sensitive Plant in a garden grew. 1821Barton Flora N. Amer. I. 102 æschynomene hispida. False-Sensitive-Plant. 1845–50A. H. Lincoln Lect. Bot. 61 The American sensitive plant. 1871Kingsley At Last xi, So away we went..through broad-leaved grasses, and the pink balls of the sensitive-plants.
fig.1821P. Egan Boxiana 1st Ser. III. 236 Martin went to work with both his hands so quickly, that his opponent's sensitive plant rolled about like a humming top, and he fell out of the ring covered with crimson. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 139 Let but a single cloud darken the summer sky,..and the heart, that sensitive plant, shrinks instinctively at nature's warning. 1907J. London Let. 27 Sept. (1966) 251 All ‘sensitive plants’ are ego⁓maniacs; they are colossally stuck upon themselves. 1926Galsworthy Silver Spoon i. vi. 41 Well, sir, the Press is a sensitive plant. I'm afraid you might make it curl up. 1974‘S. Woods’ Done to Death 190 ‘So nice to be considered a sensitive plant,’ said Emma.
b. sensitive brier, Schrankia uncinata. sensitive fern, Onoclea sensibilis.
1823Crabb Technol. Dict., Sensitive Fern. 1846–50A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. 238 Sensitive Brier.
c. Of plants and their organs: Capable of responding to stimulation. Cf. 5.
1875Darwin Insectiv. Pl. vii. 140 Some tentacles on the same leaf were more sensitive than others. 1880C. & F. Darwin Movem. Pl. 191 A part or organ may be called sensitive, when its irritation excites movement in an adjoining part. 1882Vines tr. Sachs' Bot. 729 The leaves of Mimosa..may again become sensitive when the temperature falls.
4. That feels quickly and acutely.
a. In physical sense, of a living being, an animal organ or tissue: Having quick or intense perception or sensation. Also (const. to), Readily and acutely affected with pain or pleasure by some particular influence.
1849Lyell 2nd Vis. U.S. II. 175 When people have recovered from the yellow fever, the skin, although in other respects as sensitive as ever, is no longer affected by a musquito bite. 1859Dickens T. Two Cities i. v, Madame Defarge being sensitive to cold, was wrapped in fur. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. v. 38 One effect of light upon the eye is to render it less sensitive. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 587 The tongue is one of the most sensitive of organs.
b. With reference to mental feelings: Having quick and acute sensibilities; easily touched to emotion, impressionable; easily wounded by unkindness; occasionally, ready to take offence, ‘touchy’. Const. to, rarely of.
1816Scott Old Mort. xxxix, That mournful impression,..which the sensitive mind usually receives from a return to the haunts of childhood. 1824W. Irving T. Trav. I. 72 The scenes of blood which followed shocked his sensitive nature. 1838Thirlwall Greece V. 215 They were the more sensitive to injuries and encroachments on their rights. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. i. I. 84 His conscience, which, on occasions of little moment, was sufficiently sensitive. a1859Ibid. xxiv. V. 214 Torpid as Spain had become, there was still one point on which she was exquisitely sensitive. 1862Grote Hist. Greece V. ii. lx. 288 Citizens, full of impressibility—sensitive and demonstrative Greeks. 1871R. H. Hutton Theol. Ess. i. (1888) 5 Sensitive to human emotions. 1878Lecky Eng. in 18th C. II. vi. 163 A man of the most stainless and sensitive honour. 1888H. S. Holland Christ or Eccl. p. vii, Every educated man must be sensitive of the strain laid by miracle upon..scientific..methods of knowledge.
c. spec. Having the temperament that is receptive of hypnotic or other occult influences. Cf. B. 5.
1846Gregory Abstr. Reichenbach's Res. Magnetism 2 Healthy sensitive subjects..experience no inconvenience from the approach of magnets.
5. transf.
a. Readily altered or affected by some influence specified or implied. Const. to, of.
1828H. Steuart Planter's G. (ed. 2) 506 Oaks and Beeches, the plants of all others the most sensitive of drought! 1853W. Gregory Inorg. Chem. 254 Silver and all its compounds are very sensitive to sulphuretted hydrogen. 1897M. Kingsley W. Africa 689 Your life hangs on quinine, and..it is most important to keep the system sensitive to it.
b. Photogr. Of paper or other prepared surface, of chemical substances, etc.: Susceptible to actinic influence.
1839Fox Talbot in Philos. Mag. XIV. 204 When a sheet of this, which I shall call Sensitive Paper, is placed in a dark chamber. 1839― in Rep. Brit. Assoc. VIII. ii. 3 A silver plate..covered with a stratum of iodide of silver, which is sensitive to light. 1846Gregory Abstr. Reichenbach's Res. Magnetism 9 A very sensitive daguerreotype plate being prepared, was placed opposite to a magnet [etc.]. 1893Hodges Elem. Photogr. (1907) 14 The sensitive plates, or films, are made to certain standard sizes. Ibid. 95 The paper is..very sensitive to all white light.
c. Of a scientific instrument of measurement: Indicating readily slight changes of condition, easily moved or affected by the external forces which it is constructed to detect or record.
1857Miller Elem. Chem., Org. (1862) 157 Determining the specific gravity by means of a sensitive hydrometer. 1863Tyndall Heat i. §8 (1870) 8 Had they..dipped sufficiently sensitive thermometers into the water..they would have found [etc.]. 1867― Sound vi. 243, I at one time intended to approach this subject of sensitive flames through a series of experiments, which [etc.]. 1872Yeats Techn. Hist. Comm. 349 Balances are made sensitive to the fraction of a grain. 1873–81Maxwell Electr. & Magn. II. 322 When the instrument is intended to indicate the existence of a feeble [electric] current, it is called a sensitive Galvanometer.
d. Of market-prices, stock, etc.: Having a tendency to fluctuate rapidly upon the publication of outside reports.
1866Rogers Agric. & Pr. I. xxi. 548 Such an article would be extremely sensitive to demand. 1867Latham Black & White 12 We went also to the Gold Exchange, and gold happened to be ‘very sensitive’..and would go up.
e. Of a drilling machine: designed to give the operator continuous and sensitive control over the pressure and rate of drilling.
1895C. J. Appleby Illustr. Handbk. Machinery IV. 53 Six speed sensitive drilling machine..is capable of drilling holes up to 3/4 in. diameter, and will swing 18 inches. 1942[see pillar drill s.v. pillar n. 12]. 1971C. R. Hine Machine Tools & Processes for Engineers xi. 261 This machine is slightly heavier than the sensitive drill press.
f. Involved with or likely to affect national security. Also with reference to other issues: that must be treated with care; likely to give offence if mishandled.
1953Manch. Guardian Weekly 7 May 2 People in ‘sensitive’ jobs or departments—that is in positions having access to top secret or policy information. 1968Globe & Mail (Toronto) 17 Feb. 7/1 Under the policies of the Government of Canada no one can buy arms and ship them from Canada to any sensitive area, whether that be Vietnam or anywhere else. 1973P. Geddes Ottawa Allegation x. 138, I realise it's from a sensitive source, but could I see it for myself? 1977T. Heald Just Desserts iv. 68 Probe gently. We are in what is known as a sensitive area.
g. Of a mathematical, statistical, or physical quantity: largely or appreciably influenced by changes in some other quantity, the choice of method or model, etc. Const. to.
1955[see robust a. 4]. 1966A. Battersby Math. in Managem. ix. 231 The cost is not ‘sensitive’ to the batch size. 1968Fox & Mayers Computing Methods for Scientists & Engineers iii. 31 The results show that yr is extremely sensitive, for large r, to small changes in the initial condition. 1979G. E. P. Box in Launer & Wilkinson Robustness in Statistics 211 How sensitive are inferences made about θ to these contemplated misspecifications of the model?
6. Music. sensitive note: the leading note of a scale. Cf. sensible a. 10 b.
1867MacFarren Harmony (1892) 30 This 7th of the key is also frequently called the Sensitive-note. 1881Broadhouse Mus. Acoustics 344 Modern harmony with..its constantly-present sensitive or leading note.
B. n.
†1. A being that is capable of sensation. Obs.
c1532G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 1053 Thynges created of God..ben elemented, vegetables and sensytyves, as ben all beestes. 1602Warner Alb. Eng. xiii. lxxvi. (1612) 316 The Sensitiues, as beastes, wormes, birdes, and fishes. 1651Baxter Inf. Bapt. 230 The Mediator God-man doth exercise part of his Authority..even among brutes, and sensitives that cannot know him. 1727De Foe Hist. Appar. iv. (1840) 28 In Mars..no vegetables or sensitives could subsist that we have any notion of, for want of Moisture.
†2.
a. The faculty of sensation. Obs.
1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1042 Of necessitie both the sensitive must be divided and goe with the sensible, and also the imaginative with the imaginable. 1627G. Hakewill Apol. (1630) 74 Not onely the reasonable soule of man, but the sensitive of the least gnat.
†b. That which is capable of feeling (something specified). Obs.
1744Akenside Pleas. Imag. ii. 218 They rise to act their cruelties anew In my afflicted bosom, thus decreed The universal sensitive of pain, The wretched heir of evils not its own!
†3. nonce-use. One sensible of a favour. Obs.
1663Gerbier Counsel b 8 b, An humble sensitive, Your Lordships Zealous and most humble Servant.
4. The Sensitive plant (see A. 3). [F. la sensitive.]
1707Curios. Husb. & Gard. 87 The Sensitive..never opens its Leaves till some time after Sun-rising. 1893Stevenson Isl. Nights' Entert., Beach of Falesá iv, There are cocoa palms..and guavas and lots of sensitive.
fig.1805M. A. Shee Rhymes Art 88 But arts, a tribe of sensitives, demand a hot-house culture.
5. nonce-use. One who is easily shocked.
1838Southey Doctor V. 143 This I am told it was which alarmed the Literary Sensitives.
6. One sensitive to spiritualist or other occult influences, a medium.
1850Ashburner tr. Reichenbach's Dynamics, Magnetism, etc. 333 The most remarkable individual of all the healthy sensitives, whose perceptions exceeded those even of many diseased observers, in strength, distinctness, and duration was..Josepha Zinkel. 1886F. W. H. Myers Phantasms of Living I. Introd. 63 Phenomena commonly attributed to ‘spirits’ (but many of which may perhaps be more safely ascribed to the automatic agency of the sensitive himself).
7. a. One in whom the sensitive faculty is highly developed. Also = sensitivist.
1891Athenæum 18 July 93/3 A new and active band of Dutch novelists who have thought it worth their while to take a fresh name—the Sensitives—the better to define their place in literature. 1907J. Lobb Talks with Dead 59, I [Shakspere] was a man of extremes, a Sensitive, a term which embraces all the eccentricities of a soul tabernacled in clay. 1909Chesterton Thackeray Introd. 31 He was a sublime emotional Englishman, who lived by atmosphere. He was a great sensitive.
b. transf. and fig.
1884Haweis Musical Mem. iii. 94 New violins as a rule will take thicker strings than the fine old sensitives of the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries. |