feelv.

Brit.

/fiːl/, U.S.

/fil/

Inflections: Past tense and past participle felt

/fɛlt/;

Forms: 1. Old English felan, Old English foela (Northumbrian), early Middle English fæle, Middle English feil (northern), Middle English feill (chiefly northern), Middle English fel, Middle English fell, Middle English feyl (chiefly northern), Middle English feyle (northern), Middle English feyll (chiefly northern), Middle English ffele, Middle English ffell, Middle English fiele (southern), Middle English file (northern), Middle English uele (southern), Middle English veele, Middle English–1500s vele (chiefly southern), Middle English–1600s feele, Middle English–1600s fele, Middle English– feel, 1500s ffeale, 1500s–1600s feale, 1500s–1600s (1800s– regional and nonstandard) feal, 1500s–1700s feell; English regional 1800s– feal (Lincolnshire), 1800s– veel (south-western); Scottish pre-1700 feal, pre-1700 feale, pre-1700 feele, pre-1700 feell, pre-1700 feil, pre-1700 feile, pre-1700 feill, pre-1700 feille, pre-1700 fele, pre-1700 feyle, pre-1700 feyll, pre-1700 1700s– feel, 1800s fiel. 2. Past tense Old English foelde (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms), Old English fylde (in prefixed forms, rare), Old English (in prefixed forms)–Middle English felde, Middle English feelid, Middle English feelide, Middle English feild (northern), Middle English feld, Middle English feled, Middle English felede, Middle English felid, Middle English felide, Middle English felit, Middle English felyde, Middle English ffeld, Middle English ffelde, Middle English ffelt, Middle English ffelte, Middle English fielde (southern), Middle English filt, Middle English veiled (southern), Middle English velde (southern), Middle English velede (southern), Middle English velode (southern), Middle English–1500s felyd, Middle English–1600s felte, Middle English–1600s (1800s– regional and nonstandard) feeled, Middle English– felt, late Middle English flet (transmission error), 1500s fealte; English regional 1800s– feel'd, 1800s– feelt, 1800s– fel' (west midlands), 1800s– feld (north-west midlands), 1800s– fild (Yorkshire), 1800s– filt (Yorkshire), 1800s– veeled (Devon); Scottish pre-1700 feld, pre-1700 felde, pre-1700 1700s– felt, 1800s– feelt; also Irish English (northern) 2000s– feelt. 3. Past participle Old English gefeled, Middle English feelid, Middle English feld, Middle English felid, Middle English ifeled, Middle English ifelet, Middle English ifelid, Middle English ifelt, Middle English yfeled, Middle English yveld, Middle English–1500s felde, Middle English–1500s feled, Middle English–1600s feeled, Middle English–1600s felte, Middle English– felt; English regional 1800s veel'd (south-western), 1800s– feeled, 1800s– feelen (Yorkshire), 1800s– fel (west midlands), 1800s– feld (north-west midlands), 1800s– fild (Yorkshire); also Scottish pre-1700 feld, 1800s feelt; also Irish English (northern) 1700s feelt.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian fēla (West Frisian fiele ), Middle Dutch, Dutch voelen , Old Saxon -fōlian (only in the prefixed form gifōlian yfeele v.), Middle Low German vȫlen , Old High German fuolen (Middle High German vüelen , German fühlen ); further etymology uncertain, perhaps related to Old Icelandic fálma to fumble, to grope about (see famble v.), Gothic usfilma astonished, ancient Greek πελεμίζειν to shake (see polemic adj.), or to classical Latin pollex thumb, Russian palec finger (see pollex n.).In sense 4 and in branch II. probably partly after classical Latin sentīre (see sentient adj.) and partly after Middle French sentir (see scent v.). In Old English the prefixed form gefēlan yfeele v. is also attested; it is more frequent than the simplex, and is attested earlier in a number of senses. The prefixed past participle form gefēled (see quot. OE at sense 1a) could be taken as showing the past participle of either feel v. or yfeele v.; however, sense 1a is implied for the simplex by derivatives (compare unfeeling adj. and Old English fēlnes (see feelingness n.)). West Saxon prose writers (especially Ælfric) appear to show a marked preference for the synonymous verbs frede v. and yfrede v. (compare e.g. the variant readings in early Middle English recensions of Ælfric's homilies cited at sense 1).

I. To have a sensation, impression, perception, or emotion.

a. transitive. To have a bodily sensation of (heat, cold, pain, motion, etc.), esp. as caused by a specified external stimulus; to perceive or be affected by (an external stimulus) through touch, sensation of the skin, or any means other than sight, hearing, taste, or smell.

ΚΠ

OE Homily (Corpus Cambr. 201) in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws & Instit. of Eng. (1840) II. 400 Þær næfre heaf ne geomorung..bið gehyred, ðær ne bið næfre wite gesewen ne gefeled.

c1175 ( Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Bodl. 343) (Dict. Old Eng. transcript) xxiii. 549 Þa þa ic hine ber, ne felde [glossed fredde; OE Cambr. Gg.3.28 gefredde; L. sensisset] ic nane byrðene swærnysse.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) l. 570 As þah ha nefde nohwer hurtes ifelet.

c1410 tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 147 Þe emperour was ismyte..so þat adaies he felt noþing, ne tasted [L. nihil sentiret aut gustaret].

a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe i. 182 (MED) Ȝet not þe wynd be seyn, but it may wel be felt.

a1530 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfeccyon (1531) iii. f. CCiiii^v Yf he had pretended to suffre payne, & had feled no smarte.

c1600 A. Montgomerie Poems (2000) I. 58 I the force thairof [sc. a darte] did feild.

1639 N. N. tr. J. Du Bosc Compl. Woman ii. 82 We feele a wound, not knowing the hand which strikes us.

1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 63 We..felt not the cold.

1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 142 A Nettle is a Plant so well known..that it needs no description; and there are very few that have not felt as well as seen it.

1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea xx. 419 A stiff Gale, which prevents our feeling the Heat of the Sun.

1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 360 Thy frame, robust and hardy, feels indeed The piercing cold, but feels it unimpair'd.

1840 F. D. Bennett Narr. Whaling Voy. II. 265 The hand holding the inflated animal, feels a constant boring motion of the spines.

1872 Earl of Pembroke & G. H. Kingsley South Sea Bubbles ix. 235 I felt a sudden shock, a terrible lurch, and long trembling grind.

1941 Cosmic Stories Mar. 49/2 Lance didn't feel the cold as he stepped from the observatory airlock in his bulbous space-suit.

2005 J. M. Coetzee Slow Man iii. 21 He could put his foot down flat on the accelerator, wind down the window and feel the wind on his face.

b. intransitive. To have or be capable of sensations of touch or other bodily sensations not associated with the senses of sight, hearing, taste, or smell (as heat, cold, pain, motion, etc.); (also more generally) to be capable of any kind of sensory perception.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > be capable of sensations of touch [verb (intransitive)]

feelc1175

c1175 ( Ælfric's Homily on Nativity of Christ (Bodl. 343) in A. O. Belfour 12th Cent. Homilies in MS Bodl. 343 (1909) 92 Heo [sc. the soul] is sensus.., þonne heo fælæð [OE Julius gefret]. Heo is animus.., þonne heo wat. Heo is mens.., þonne heo understont.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 154 Hit behoueþ þe vif wyttes..wel lede..zuo þet ech serui of his office..; Ase þe eȝen to zyenne,..Þe honden and al þet body to vele.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 181 (MED) Þey cleueþ to þe erthe and mowe noþer [see] ne hire, ne taste, ne smelle, but onliche fele whan þey beeþ i-touched.

?a1534 H. Medwall Nature i. sig. aiii^v Yt shuld neyther fele here nor se But be as other incensate bodys be.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. x. lxxi Even oisters and the earth-wormes, if a man touch them, doe evidently feele.

1631 D. Widdowes tr. W. A. Scribonius Nat. Philos. (new ed.) 49 About this time [at thirty dayes] the Childe beginneth..to feele.

1643 J. Steer tr. Fabricius Exper. Chyrurg. iii. 8 The under skinne..hardly feeleth, though it bee pricked with a Lancet.

1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 88 So Man, at first a Drop, dilates with Heat,..First vegetive, then feels, and reasons last.

a1771 T. Gray Ess. I in W. Mason Mem. Life & Writings (1775) 195 With sense to feel, with memory to retain.

1800 W. Wordsworth Hart-leap Well ii. xxi The meanest thing that feels.

1887 W. James in Mind 12 184 If the skin felt everywhere exactly alike.

1906 Proc. Royal Soc. B. 78 267 A short time afterwards the man stated he was again able to feel, but these sensations rapidly subsided.

2002 S. Lewis tr. J.-L. Marion Prolegomena to Charity vii. 161 My hand feels and feels that it feels.

c. transitive. To have the sensation of physical contact with (something); to perceive (an object) by the sense of touch.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > [verb (transitive)]

fredec888

haveeOE

yfeeleOE

feelc1175

perceivec1330

comprehendc1374

find?a1425

perceiver1495

to take up1607

sensatea1652

percept1652

to suck ina1661

sense1661

appreciate1787

absorb1840

sensize1861

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > perceive by sense of touch [verb (transitive)]

feelc1175

c1175 ( Ælfric's Homily on Nativity of Christ (Bodl. 343) in A. O. Belfour 12th Cent. Homilies in MS Bodl. 343 (1909) 94 Oft bið þeo sawle on ane þinge oððe on ane þohte swa bisiȝ, þæt..þeah hire hwa rine, uel reppe, heo hit ne fæleð [OE Julius gefret].

a1325 (c1280) Southern Passion (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 1518 (MED) Þat swerd ȝeo ffelde at hure heorte.

c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xx. l. 145 Al þat þe fyngres and þe fust felen and touchen.

a1475 Friar & Boy (Brogyntyn) in J. O. Halliwell Early Eng. Misc. (1855) 50 (MED) The bowe yn hand sone he felt.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 14 Thos thyngys wych we se fele or her.

?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors ix. sig. C3 The lawyer can not vnderstond the matter, tyl he fele his mony.

1580 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Dial. Yron in Ioyfull Newes (new ed.) f. 155^v Pouder..that being taken betweene the fingers,..is [not] felt between them.

1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 67 I am glad..that I can lay hold of something, I can feele, and that hath truth in it.

1720 W. R. Chetwood Voy. Capt. R. Falconer i. 64 It shak'd its Tail to and fro..all the while it felt the Water.

1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 86 I felt under my naked foot..some hard substance or other.

1808 W. Herbert Ella Rosenberg II. 123 I felt her ice-cold lips upon mine.

1869 Ld. Tennyson Pelleas & Ettarre 428 Back as a hand that pushes thro' the leaf To find a nest and feels a snake, he drew.

1940 W. Fawcett Young Horseman xii. 151 The horse is taught..to turn away from the side on which he feels the rein against his neck.

1998 D. Almond Skellig xxiv. 89 I felt the feathers, and beneath them the bones and sinews and muscles that supported them.

d. transitive. With simple object and bare infinitive or complement. To perceive or become aware of (something acting in the specified way or being in the specified condition) by sense of touch or other physical sensation. Also with clause as object.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > perceive by sense of touch [verb (transitive)] > know by sense of touch

feela1387

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 25 (MED) Eueriche man feleth þe water hoot or colde, riȝt as he wolde hymself.

c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 362 The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. NN^v Whan we may fele our pulses bete quickely.

1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Mark v. 29 She felt in her body that she was healed of the plage.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 274 When the Genowayes felt the Arrowes pearcyng thorough their heades, armes & breastes.

1610 G. Fletcher Christs Victorie 34 Still he thought he felt their craples teare Him by the heels backe to his ougly denne.

1677 J. Wallis Let. 29 Mar. in H. Oldenburg Corr. (1986) XIII. 234 Wee feel ye Wind-scot seats on which wee sit, or lean, to Tremble constantly at certain Notes on ye Organ.

1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 13 He felt the blood trickle about his Legs.

1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (at cited word) In the manage, they say to feel a horse in the hand; that is, to observe that the will of the horse is in the rider's hand.

1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 239 One of the men..cried out that he felt him still warm.

1839 T. Beale Nat. Hist. Sperm Whale 65 A Sardinian captain bathing..felt one of his feet in the grasp of one of these animals.

1894 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ Real Charlotte III. xxxviii. 86 As she felt his fingers close hard round her hand..she pulled it away.

1938 D. Baker Young Man with Horn i. v. 54 Rick took the bottle..and tilted it up until he felt the alcohol cold against his lips.

2005 Z. Smith On Beauty 83 He felt his pocket vibrate. He took out his pager.

e. intransitive. With complement. To be consciously perceived (esp. through the sense of touch) as having the specified quality; to produce the sensation or give the impression of being; to seem.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > have specific appearance [verb] > seem

seeOE

seema1225

seema1300

feel1581

would seem1754

1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. ii. sig. M5 The hande..feeling to bee rough.

1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 139 The substance of it feels..exactly like a very fine piece..of Chamois leather.

1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 165 If it feels heavy..then we give him more Rope.

1768 J. Byron Narr. Patagonia 252 The weather was extremely cold, and felt particularly so to us.

1780 C. Cordiner Antiq. & Scenery North of Scotl. 103 The air felt warm.

1844 Lady G. C. Fullerton Ellen Middleton II. ix. 12 It felt to me as if the air had grown lighter.

a1861 E. B. Browning Last Poems (1862) 92 Then one weeps, then one kneels! God, how the house feels!

1893 R. Barr From whose Bourne 225 I haven't forgotten how it felt to be hard up.

1966 C. H. Hayward Home Handyman iii. 62 If the hand is passed back and forth..the carpet will feel smooth in one direction.

2003 K. Slater & J. Borte Pipe Dreams (2004) xiii. 265 I'd forgotten how it felt to stand in the winner's circle.

2. transitive. To experience the effects of (something material or immaterial, esp. something unpleasant or damaging, as a blow, a hostile influence, etc.); to undergo or be subjected to. Formerly also intransitive.In quot. OE apparently with reference to hunted deer succumbing to the miraculous power of consecrated items borne by the hunter.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be subjected to or undergo an action > undergo or experience

feelOE

seeOE

passa1325

provec1330

attastec1374

wielda1375

tastec1380

sufferc1390

to pass through ——c1400

expert?a1475

traverse1477

experiment1484

savour1509

to taste of1526

to go through ——1535

sustain1575

approve1578

try1578

experience1588

undergo1600

to run through ——1602

pree1806

OE (Northumbrian) Liturgical Texts (Durham Ritual) in A. H. Thompson & U. Lindelöf Rituale Ecclesiae Dunelmensis (1927) 117 Mitte in hanc creaturam tuam salis et aquæ benedictionem tuam ad capiendas capras et ceruos uimque odoris tui uel uirtutem sentiant : send on ðas giscæfte ðinum saltes & uætres bloetsung ðin' to onfoanne hrao & heartas nedmægn æc stences ðines uel mægn hia foele.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 136 Ȝef ani ancre is þe ne feleð nane fondunges.

c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) 2133 Knottes menion..deope in his flesch hi wode..; lutel ese he miȝte vele.

a1450 York Plays (1885) 58 (MED) This is a ferly fare to feele.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 304 He wes worth na seyle Yat mycht of nane anoyis feyle.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xiiij So the comon Prouerbe was verified, as you have done, so shall you fele.

1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Aiii They haue felde great calamities.

1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 97 So fell ane wedder feld I neuer.

1608 Bp. J. Hall Epist. I. i. v. 41 Wee fell vpon a Cappucine Nouice..His head had now felt the razor, his backe the rod.

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 93 [He] had his head cut off, and felt a terrible reward for his Apostasie.

1700 J. Tyrrell Gen. Hist. Eng. II. 894 The Kingdom..felt the Effects of their ill Ministery.

1767 Jrnl. Voy. H.M.S. Dolphin 6 The inhabitants feel little inconvenience from heat and cold.

1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna viii. vii. 180 The stings Of death will make the wise his vengeance feel.

1840 F. D. Bennett Narr. Whaling Voy. I. 5 We felt the first influence of the N.E. trade-wind, in lat. 21° N.

1909 Motorman & Conductor Nov. 7/1 Some of them had already felt the wrath of the antagonizing railway companies.

2009 Private Eye 1 May 15/1 We have not yet felt the chomp of the worldwide credit crunch.

a. To be aware of being injured or benefited by (a fact or occurrence); to be conscious of being affected by.

(a) transitive. With simple object.In Old English with genitive.Frequently distinguished from figurative uses in sense 2 only by the less explicit metaphor of physical sensation.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be affected by some action

haveeOE

to feel of ——c1390

feel1487

eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. xxxv. 84 Sume lator felað þara læcedoma, sume raþor.

OE Riddle 6 8 Hi þæs felað þeah, swylce þæs oþres, þonne ic [sc. the sun] eft hyra ofer deop gedreag drohtað betan [read bete].

a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 494 Ðus fel Adam ðurȝ a tre, Vre firste fader, ðat fele we.

a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 756 I wil doo my parte, ye shul it fele.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 13 Thair fais feld thair cummyng weill.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 514 He is on lyff, that sall our nacioune feill.

1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. diiij^v I the warrant They fele no indigent rearage. For they have goodes innumerable.

1577 tr. ‘F. de L'Isle’ Legendarie sig. Fiij^v By this meanes they gaue so shrewd a spurne at the estate of this realme that it feleth it yet.

1655 R. Baxter Sermon of Iudgement 267 Those that now feel little need of a Saviour, they shall then have none to save them, when they feel their need.

a1704 T. Brown Dialogue Oxf. Schollars in Wks. (1707) I. i. 9 I shall quickly feel my goings out.

1789 G. Dixon Voy. round World xv. 57 Our stock of yams was nearly expended, an inconvenience which we felt very heavily.

1833 Morning Chron. 19 Nov. The want of flour has been very much felt for some days past.

1883 Manch. Guardian 18 Oct. 4/7 The storm of Tuesday appears to have been felt very severely on the Western coasts.

1885 Cent. Mag. Nov. 30/1 Nor did she feel the want of a stair carpet and a parlor organ.

1921 Jrnl. Forestry 19 779 Our salmon canneries, mines, and railroads are large consumers of lumber and will keenly feel the loss of our timber.

2013 Tampa Bay (Florida) Times (Nexis) 8 Mar. 2 Friends keenly felt her absence as they swapped stories and enjoyed her favorite drinks.

†(b) transitive. With object and object complement. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 53 (MED) And hym ȝe shall feill most prompte helper In this present perill.

1564 A. Bacon tr. J. Jewel Apol. Churche Eng. vi. sig. Q.vi^v For feare least they feele hym once a redresser and reuenger of his owne cause.

b. transitive. Of an inanimate object: to be acted upon, influenced, or affected by; to be subjected to.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be subject to action or influence

feel1559

to lie under1600

stand1607

to stand under ——a1616

the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be affected by some action > specifically of inanimate things

obeyc1390

feel1559

perceive1626

1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 11 Or descending to lowe, th' earth of heat shall fele the flame.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 628 Orites..will abide the fire and feele no harme therby.

1660 R. Sharrock Hist. Propagation & Improvem. Veg. 12 The lesse of the winter the Cabbage..feels, the more subject 'tis to caterpillars.

1694 tr. F. Martens Voy. Spitzbergen 30 in Narbrough's Acct. Several Late Voy. The Ships do not feel these smaller Waves but only the great ones.

1733 A. Pope Ess. Man i. 167 That never Air or Ocean felt the wind.

a1822 P. B. Shelley tr. J. W. von Goethe Scenes from Faust in Posthumous Poems (1824) 399 The hoar pines already feel her breath.

1893 Homiletic Rev. Oct. 347/2 Some things never give forth their best until trial comes, as the chestnut burrs burst when they feel the frost.

1914 Young Woman's Jrnl. Feb. 137 The shadows lengthen as the day grows old, And mustard blossoms barely feel the breeze.

2008 New Scientist 5 Jan. 27/1 Orbiting so close to the sun, Mercury feels its gravitational pull most keenly.

†4. transitive. To apprehend mentally; to become aware of; to know, understand. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > perceive [verb (transitive)]

acknowOE

keepc1000

feelOE

findOE

seeOE

yknowc1275

apperceivec1300

descrivec1300

knowc1300

perceivec1330

taste1340

tellc1390

catcha1398

scenta1398

devisea1400

kena1400

concernc1425

descrya1450

henta1450

apprehend1577

scerne1590

to take in1637

discreevec1650

recognize1795

absorb1840

embrace1852

cognizea1856

cognosce1874

the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > emotional perception > [verb (transitive)]

fredec888

feelOE

apprehend1592

sense1872

OE Seven Sleepers (Julius) (1994) 40 Þæt heora nan felan [altered to gefelan] ne mihte hu hi gewurdon on slæpe, ne heora nan nyste hwær heora sawla reston.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 2483 (MED) And thogh nomore he fiele, Bot that sche hath a litel hiele, It is ynow that he therfore Hire love.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 2902 Mani man, for ouer-wele, þam-self can noþer faand ne feil.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 243 Ech of these men feelid weel in himsilf that he hadde nede for to haue help and reuling.

1463 R. Calle in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 289 As I feele hym disposed I schall sende your maystreship answer.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vi. l. 289 The queyne feld weill how that his purpos was.

a1563 J. Bale King Johan (1969) ii. 2025 That is suche a lye as easely wyll be felte.

1572 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. 237 Alaik, I feill ȝow to thame bound and thrall.

a. transitive. With simple object. To experience or be conscious of (a sensation or emotion); to entertain (a conviction or desire).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > disposition or character > temporary state of mind, mood > be or become in a specific mood [verb]

takec1175

feelc1225

cheerc1425

vein1589

frame1763

the mind > mental capacity > consciousness > self-consciousness > have conscious perception [verb (transitive)]

feel1816

c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 38 (MED) Swuch fearlac ich fele.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 311 Hwen ȝe feleð [a1250 Nero iueleð] ani secnesse.

c1300 St. Wulstan (Laud) 196 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 76 His bodi bi-gan to heuegy swiþe, grete feblesse he fielde.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 13 Þe same merk and tokene [of burning] þat he hadde i-felt [c1400 Tiber. yveld; ?a1475 anon. tr. suffrede; L. pertulit] in his soule he bare alwey after i-sene.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 2730 (MED) So schalt thou fiele no rancour.

a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 88 Þanne þe sike man schal fele to greet heete & brennynge.

c1450 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Fairf. 16) (1879) Prol. l. 106 In myn herte I feele yet the fire, That made me to ryse er yt wer day.

a1475 Revelations St. Birgitta (Garrett) (1929) 42 (MED) He..that hath felde in himselfe þe stryfe of ij spirites, & falsehod and trewth.

a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 2537 (MED) Off care no thyng they ffeld.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Chron. vi. 29 Yf eny man fele his plage and disease.

1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Ciij^v [She]..scorns the heat he feeles .

1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. J. L. G. de Balzac Lett. 309 I have not at all felt the emotion I shewed.

1717 A. Pope Eloisa to Abelard in Wks. 435 He best can paint 'em [sc. woes], who shall feel 'em most.

1798 J. Ferriar Illustr. Sterne ii. 25 Francis I. felt a curiosity to hear his book read.

1816 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto III lxxxiii. 46 Mankind have felt their strength.

1876 J. H. Newman Hist. Sketches I. i. i. 44 Timour..felt some misgivings about his past course.

1919 P. G. Wodehouse Damsel in Distress xii. 144 He felt a wave of stage-fright such as he had only once experienced before in his life.

2008 J. O'Neill Netherland (2009) 177 I noticed a familiar-seeming face a few spots away... I felt a strong impulse to approach him.

b. transitive. With simple object and infinitive or complement. To have an impression or conviction that (a person or thing) has the specified quality, or is in the specified condition. Frequently reflexive.In reflexive use frequently with reference to physical sensation (as having an impression or awareness that one is warm, hungry, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > [verb (transitive)] > feel an emotion

feelc1225

wielda1375

the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > emotional attitude > hold, entertain, or cherish (a feeling) [verb (transitive)]

haveOE

takec1175

feelc1225

makec1225

hoard1340

cherishc1385

harbour1393

nourisha1522

nurse1567

lodge1583

carry1586

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [verb (transitive)]

haveeOE

cuneOE

supOE

yfeeleOE

afondOE

canOE

seeOE

knowc1175

provea1200

feelc1225

passa1325

fraistc1330

wielda1375

wita1450

experiment1484

approve1578

experiencea1586

resent1595

fand-

c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Royal) (1934) 7 Ne felestu þi flesch al toloken & tolimet þurh þat ich hate?

c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 141 Ȝif þou fele þe syker and sounde, Þonk þou þi god.

a1400 (c1300) Northern Homily: Monk returns from Death (Coll. Phys.) in Middle Eng. Dict. at Felen This enfermer Was sek, and he that was till him der Com..He asked him hou he him felid.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. GGiii That they fele their stomakes partly hungry, and nat vtterly saciate or glutted.

1583 C. Hollyband Campo di Fior 37 Feelest thou thy selfe well?

a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1604) sig. E4^v I feele thy words To comfort my distressed soule.

1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill 42 Feeling himselfe die by degrees.

1662 H. Stubbe Indian Nectar vi. 129 I felt my self to be seised with a gentle sweat, or moisture.

1734 A. Pope Epist. to Visct. Cobham 13 You..Shall feel your ruling Passion strong in Death.

1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 49 We felt ourselves warm and comfortable.

1821 J. Bentham Elements Art of Packing 173 He would..feel himself running counter to that which [etc.].

1881 C. Gibbon Heart's Probl. (1884) iii. 33 Maurice felt his eyes dazzled by a blaze of light.

1921 ‘E. M. Delafield’ Humbug 45 To her deep mortification, she felt her face burning with angry scarlet.

2011 V. W. Lloyd Probl. Grace 200 The boy did not feel his hopes crushed at the time.

c. intransitive. With complement. To have the sensation of being; to consider oneself to be in a particular state or exhibiting particular qualities. Cf. to feel like at Phrases 6.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > emotional perception > [verb (intransitive)] > emotionally perceive oneself as

feelc1390

c1390 (c1300) MS Vernon Homilies in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1877) 57 242 Þis ilke ffermere was seek, and he þat was him dere Com..he asked him hou he ferde and felede.

1572 Abp. M. Parker Let. 13 Dec. in Corr. (1853) (modernized text) 412 In better health than I in a naughty body feel.

1609 A. Craig Poet. Recreations sig. A4^v Thus feeling ill, and fearing worse each day, A miriad of mis-fortunes I embrace.

a1697 A. Horneck Several Serm. 5th St. Matthew (1698) II. xvii. 20 You have felt so contemptible, that you despise all that you can promise your selves for the future.

1718 E. Strother Euodia (ed. 2) i. iii. 37 Watching, if excessive, will make us feel Weak and Heavy.

1744 D. Brainerd Diary 13 May in J. Edwards Acct. Life D. Brainerd (1765) 110 Felt very poorly after my long journey.

1772 M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1862) 2nd Ser. I. 449 I feel so old y^t its impossible to stir from home.

1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. i. 89 Now, that your soul feels strong, let us proceed.

1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest II. iii. 66 I feel indebted to you for the service you have rendered me.

1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles & St. James (new ed.) xii, in Writings I. 117 To make him feel a coward, a nobody, a nincompoop.

1878 W. Besant & J. Rice By Celia's Arbour III. iv. 66 I, for my own part, felt small.

1938 E. Goudge Towers in Mist (1998) viii. 188 He felt a fool in his pantoffles.

1977 J. Kosinski Blind Date 199 After the earlier excitement, he felt in control again.

2009 V. Coren For Richer for Poorer v. 63 The whole situation is so terrifying that I feel sick whenever I consider playing a hand.

d. intransitive. With complement. To entertain a specified sentiment or conviction; to be in a specified frame of mind.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > state of feeling or mood > be in or assume state of feeling [verb (intransitive)]

feela1400

vein1589

a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) cxxx. 3 in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 261 (MED) Ife i feled noght mekeli.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) §581 This cursed synne doon they whan they feelen in hir hertes ful wikkedly of god and of hise halwes.

a1425 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Laud) (1884) cxxx. §3. 449 Si non humiliter senciebam..if i not mekly felyd: bot i heghid my soul. That is, if i had not meke felyng in the grace that god gaf til me.

a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) i. l. 1628 (MED) This flood..Causid..scarsete off vetaile, That many a man felte ful vnsoote.

1744 S. Williams Christ King of Truth vii. 133 Unless he can chuse to feel miserable and wretched rather than to feel happy and blessed.

1794 Substance of Rep. Court of Directors Sierra Leone Company 91 I felt very sorry on the occasion, for I dare say I lost three hundred dollars by his death.

1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iv. ii. 65 How feel you to this work?

1839 T. Beale Nat. Hist. Sperm Whale 174 The captain felt certain that he was going to ‘sound’.

1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxxi. 266 It makes a man feel badly to see the faces around him bleaching into waxen paleness.

1920 C. Carswell Open Door! i. i. 6 I feel sure there must be a train before then.

1953 J. Wain Hurry on Down (1960) 55 Suddenly his knee-joints turned to water and he felt glad he was sitting down.

1986 Los Angeles Times 12 Sept. v. 9/1 He had spanked his daughter... It didn't work, he said. ‘She just cried more and I felt bad.’

1993 T. Parker May Lord in His Mercy be Kind to Belfast (1994) xv. 269 When me and the wife got rehoused here just on twenty years ago, it was all clean and smart, everybody felt good about living here.

2003 Cult Times May 23/1 I feel confident I could get into any fight scene and rock it because of my time on Buffy.

6. transitive. To smell, to taste; (with clause) to perceive by means of smell or taste. Also intransitive. Scottish, Irish English (northern), and English regional (northern) in later use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [verb (transitive)] > perceive taste of (something)

feelc1225

smack1340

taste1340

find?a1425

the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > [verb (transitive)] > track or perceive using sense of smell

i-stinkc1000

smellc1175

smakec1220

feelc1225

asmellc1320

savoura1382

scenta1425

winda1425

get1530

vent1575

nose1577

smell1608

resent1614

snuff1697

to get (also take, pick up) the scent1723

to carry scent1753

find1827

snuffle1871

flair1919

c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 26 (MED) Ich habbe..felde hu his fule stench strac & sturede aweiwart.

a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 346 Wan he it felen, he aren faȝen.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 638 Haue ȝe..feled þe sauor.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 193 He schal wel fielen ate laste That it is sour.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 23456 In this lijf has man gret liking..Suete spiceri to fell and smell.

a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xv. 57 Com nere, son, and kys me, That I may feyle the smell of the.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Dan. iii. E There was no smell of fyre felt vpon them.

1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle i. ii. sig. Aiii To feele how the ale dooth taste.

1604 King James VI & I Counterblaste to Tobacco sig. D^v By his owne election he would rather feele the sauour of a Sinke.

1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia i. 2 They felt a most dilicate sweete smell.

1706 W. Storr in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. 7 51 It was a very lothsome smell to feell all over the lordship.

1782 J. Sinclair Observ. Sc. Dial. 83 You complain much of that tannery, but I cannot say I feel it.

1846 J. Taylor Upper Canada 101 My conductor exclaiming, ‘I feel the odour of the spring’.

1861 E. Waugh Birtle Carter's Tale 7 There's that bit o' pickle i' th cubbort..Fotch it eawt, an' let him feel at it.

1884 Eastern Morning News (Hull) 19 Apr. 4/4 He felt a nasty smell.

1904 ‘H. Foulis’ Erchie xvii. 112 So that's the wye I was wi' the Clachnacudden chats. Dae ye no' feel the smell o' peat-reek aff me?

1951 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) 8 Oct. Miss Gartly felt the smell of something burning.

a. intransitive. To have one's sensibilities aroused; to experience emotion; (with with, towards, †of) to have compassion for or sympathy with a person, a person's situation, etc. Frequently with adverbial phrase indicating the depth or nature of the emotion experienced. See also to feel for —— 1 at Phrasal verbs.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > compassion > feel pity or compassion [verb (intransitive)] > sympathize

feelc1390

sympathize1850

c1390 MS Vernon Homilies in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1877) 57 289 (MED) I dude foly And blamed him for he eet erly, ffor of his hunger nout feled I.

a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 3963 (MED) And felyst weyl yn þy herte Of a lytyl sorow or smerte, Þat þou ne art preysed furþer þan he.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. iii. 7 It resounds As if it felt with Scotland.

a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Honest Mans Fortune iv. ii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Xxxxx2/2 How heavy guilt is, when men come to feele.

1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks I. iii. 319 To live, and not to feel!

1761 C. Churchill Rosciad 19 Those who would make us feel, must feel themselves.

1816 Ld. Byron There's not a Joy World can Give in Poems 18 Oh could I feel as I have felt,—or be what I have been.

1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre I. iii. 34 Children can feel, but they cannot analyze their feelings.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. (ed. 5) II. vii. 213 A moderate party..had always felt kindly towards the Protestant Dissenters.

1893 Speaker 20 May 557/2 The Archbishop..and his colleagues feel very strongly on the subject of the attack upon the Welsh Church.

1908 Smart Set Apr. 71/2 He doesn't seem to feel.

1943 Y. Winters Anat. Nonsense 19 The insane..sometimes perceive and feel with great intensity.

2013 Nottingham Post (Nexis) 1 Aug. 56 I feel very vehemently about this.

b. transitive. To be emotionally affected by (an event or situation); to sympathize with (another's misfortunes).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > [verb (transitive)] > be emotionally affected by

yfeeleOE

catcha1350

feelc1450

surprise1485

relisha1616

c1450 (c1400) Bk. Vices & Virtues (Huntington) (1942) 203 (MED) Þe more parfiȝt þat a man is, þe more he feleþ oþeres sorwes.

1569 J. Sanford tr. H. C. Agrippa Of Vanitie Artes & Sci. lxxvii. f. 122 They might be comfortes of new pleasure to them, whiche felte the losse of theire parentes, in the Troiane warre.

1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill 271 They doe feele with greater griefe an other mans profite, then their owne losse.

a1627 T. Middleton No Wit (1657) ii. 66 Oh that my heart should feel her wrongs so much, And yet live ignorant of the injurer!

1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 1 I was too young to feel my Loss.

a1774 O. Goldsmith Epit. Dr. Parnell in Poems (1790) 56 What heart but feels his sweetly-moral lay.

1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 409 Rudolf..felt deeply the tragical loss of his favourite son.

1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal II. ix. 171 It was her candour which he felt most keenly.

1915 M. Caird Stones of Sacrifice xi. 325 There's no denying that Clarissa has felt Claudia's conduct acutely.

2012 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 26 May The students around her crack up laughing but it's clear they feel the insult too.

8. transitive. slang (chiefly U.S., originally in African-American usage). To empathize or agree with (another); to understand, esp. intuitively. Frequently in do you feel me? and variants. Cf. dig v. 6c.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > identification with other > understand empathetically [verb (transitive)]

empathize1918

grok1961

feel1997

1997 Vibe Dec. 68/2 Ya feel me?; Do you agree?

2003 N.Y. Mag. 31 Mar. 13/4 You don't have to tell me, girlfriend... I feel ya on that.

2004 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 8 Aug. vii. 14/1 If I was to talk about how rough it was on the West Side, I don't think people would be feeling me.

2010 B. Agbaje Off Endz vi. 34 I wanted something for myself, you feel me?

II. To believe, judge, have an opinion.

9. transitive. With clause as object, or with simple object and to-infinitive. To have a conviction or impression that (something) is the case, esp. based on emotion, intuition, or other indefinite grounds; to think, believe, hold as an opinion. Cf. to feel as if at Phrases 2.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > bring to belief, convince [verb (transitive)] > be convinced, swallow

feela1200

to take on trust1590

swallow1594

to take up1617

to take upon content1646

to take in1823

a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 93 Gif he feleð þat he is wurðe þer to, þenne understonde he þat husel.

c1300 St. Mary Magdalen (Laud) l. 13 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 462 (MED) Ȝwane a man fielez in is heorte þat he hauez muche mis-do.

?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) II. lf. 249 And than feling [Fr. sentant] that his lyf had no more for to soiourne [etc.].

1522 E. Betts Let. in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 228 And I felt wele þ^t ye shuld abeen never þ^e nere.

1548 Princess Elizabeth & J. Bale tr. Queen Margaret of Angoulême Godly Medytacyon Christen Sowle f. 15 This truthe maketh her to feale that there is in the, true paternyte.

1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iv. ii. 91 Garlands..which I feele I am not worthy yet to weare.

1664 J. Dryden Rival Ladies iv. iii. 46 I feel already My stout Heart melts.

1691 J. Dunton Voy. round World II. vii. 67 Dear Reader, I feel I have Rambled away from the Booksellers, and faln among the Books agen.

1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber iv. 56 Plays come to be so..hackney'd out to the Common People..the best Actors will soon feel that the Town has enough of them.

1765 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VIII. xxvii. 121 He felt he was in love with widow Wadman.

1767 S. Pennington Lett. I. (new ed.) 122 The utter impossibility of expressing what they feel to be equally true and undelineable.

1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. ii, in Poems 75 Phœbe..felt she gave, Delight.

1835 I. Taylor Spiritual Despotism vi. 248 They felt that a religion..demanded a watchful control.

1861 A. Trollope Barchester Towers xxxii She felt that she might yet recover her lost ground.

1899 F. Norris McTeague iii. 39 He felt that he was clumsy and ungainly.

1912 J. Conrad 'Twixt Land & Sea (1978) v. 54 There were moments when I felt I must break out and start swearing at her.

1939 D. Whipple Priory xxxiv. 404 She felt that nothing that was said had any bearing on reality.

1964 J. M. Argyle Psychol. & Social Probl. xvi. 202 Another objection to social planning is that it is felt to increase the power of the state and restrict individual freedom.

2005 G. M. Flynn Currach Race & Other Stories viii. 70 It was felt by both men that the extra length would improve speed.

2013 New Yorker 2 Sept. 75/2 To be young is to feel that time will never run out.

†10. transitive. To think, believe, have as an opinion. Also intransitive with complement: to have an opinion of a particular kind. Frequently with of indicating the topic. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > hold an opinion [verb (transitive)]

ween971

holda1300

believec1325

judgec1325

feelc1380

supposea1387

conceivea1425

take1429

opinea1475

thinkc1480

supponea1500

esteem1507

opinion1555

intend?1577

meditate1585

opinionate1599

opiniate1624

arbitrate1637

apprehend1639

state1671

calculate1805

consider1830

fink1888

c1380 J. Aston in J. Lewis Hist. Life & Sufferings Wiclif (1820) 262 Y John Aston Prist unworthely required..to say what I felyde in the matyr of the Sacrament of the Autere.

1382 N. Hereford in J. Lewis Hist. Life & Sufferings Wiclif (1820) 257 We wer required to seyne what we felyde of diverse conclusions.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 412 Thouȝ y feele thus, that the clergie hath very lordschip.

c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 87 Iuel þei felid of God, tenting to idols.

1544 J. Bale Brefe Chron. Syr I. Oldecastell f. 20^v That I shuld otherwyse fele and teache of the sacramentes.

1544 J. Bale Brefe Chron. Syr I. Oldecastell f. 24 How fele ye this artycle?

III. To examine or explore by touch.

11.

a. intransitive. To search for something with the hand, finger, a stick, etc.; to extend one's hands, etc., to ascertain one's position or find one's way; to grope. Frequently with about, around. See also to feel after ——, to feel for —— 2 at Phrasal verbs.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > make a search [verb (intransitive)] > search with the hand

grope971

feela1382

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (intransitive)] > grope about

feela1382

to fathom aboutc1400

to feel (out) one's waya1450

grabble1579

pouter1812

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. lix. 10 Wee han gropid [L. palpavimus] as blinde men the wall, as withoute eȝen wee han felid [L. attrectavimus].

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 547/2 Fele this way alonge by the wall, tyll you come to the wyndowe.

1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 553/1 He grisped and longe felt about here & ther in the darke.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 131 Take the Tayle, and feele betwyxt euery ioynt.

1681 G. R. tr. C. Oudin Extravagant Poet 24 So, feeling in his Pocket, he pulls out a little tiny box.

1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 192 I searched all my pockets..opened all our parcels..and looked and felt in every fold of them.

1864 Ld. Tennyson Enoch Arden in Enoch Arden, etc. 42 Feeling all along the garden-wall, Lest he should..tumble.

1885 Bull. U.S. Fish Comm. 5 27 The boys reach in and feel about in the holes and under the rocks.

1920 C. Sidgwick & C. Garstin Black Knight xiv. 168 He felt under the body and brought out the hard object.

1955 P. M. Evans Hopscotch 5 Then you feel around and pick up your potsie without opening your eyes.

2008 K. Barnes Country called Home (2009) 119 She felt in her pocket, found the compass, and threw it as hard as she could.

b. intransitive. To use the hand, finger, etc., to touch something, esp. (in later use) cautiously or tentatively. Chiefly with at, †to. See also to feel of —— 3 at Phrasal verbs.

ΚΠ

1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 55 Within his shale are fat and full seedes, as soft to feele to as purple silk.

1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V ii. iii. 24 I felt to them [sc. his feet]..And to his knees..and vpward, and all was..cold.

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §352 The part [of Wood] that shineth, is..somewhat soft, and moist to feel to.

1663 G. Harvey Archelogia Philosophica Nova II. ii. ii. 226 It [sc. the Stone of an Indian Hogge] is soft and fat to feel to, just as if you felt a piece of Castile Sope.

1772 J. Priestley Hist. Vision, Light & Colours I. iii. 115 A blindman's judging of the size and distance of an object, by feeling at it with two sticks of a known length.

1841 Ann. Reg. 1840 ii. Chron. 72/1 He was disturbed by some one feeling at his throat.

1913 N. Munro in Blackwood's Mag. Dec. 784/2 [He] felt at his stubbled chin, and took from his sack the razors.

2014 S. Kendrick Shamed in Sands xi. 164 She'd caught hold of his hand and moved it to her stomach... ‘Go on. Feel.’

†12. transitive. To grope after, try to find. Only in to feel and find and variants, in translations of Acts 17:27 and apparent allusions to it. Obsolete. [After post-classical Latin attrectare to touch, handle (see attrectation n.) in the Vulgate translation of Acts 17:27, itself after Hellenistic Greek ψηλαϕᾶν to feel, touch, stroke, to test, examine, to search after (see pselaphognath n.). Compare German fühlen und finden (1522 in Luther's translation of the Bible). Compare also quot. 1611 for to feel after —— at Phrasal verbs.

The phrase to feel and find also occurs commonly in other religious contexts in which feel is more appropriately interpreted as belonging to branch I.]

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > search for or seek [verb (transitive)]

seekc888

aseekc1000

i-secheOE

huntc1175

to seek afterc1175

beseechc1200

fand?c1225

ofseche?c1225

to seek forc1250

atseekc1275

furiec1290

forseeka1300

outseekc1300

upseekc1315

to look after ——c1330

wait1340

laita1350

searchc1350

pursuea1382

ensearchc1384

to feel and findc1384

inseekc1384

looka1398

fraist?a1400

umseeka1400

require?c1400

walec1400

to look up1468

prowla1475

to see for ——c1485

to look for ——a1492

to have in the wind1540

sue1548

vent?1575

seek1616

explore1618

dacker1634

research1650

to see out for1683

quest1752

to see after ——1776

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds xvii. 27 To seke God, if perauenture thei feelen him, ethir fynden [L. attrectent eum aut inveniant].

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Acts xvii. D That they shulde seke the Lorde, yf they mighte fele and fynde him.

1614 N. Byfield Signes 32 To feele and finde the gracious goodnes and readinesse of God to shew mercie.

1896 Biblical World 8 246 God..did not leave them without witness by which they could feel and find him.

13.

a. transitive. To touch or handle (something) in order to perceive those physical characteristics that may be discerned in this way, such as shape, texture, temperature, etc.; to examine by touching, esp. with the hand or fingers.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)]

repeOE

warpa1225

treatc1384

feela1400

palp1534

palpabrize1593

fista1616

handa1616

thrumble1632

to set (one's) hand to1638

to feel of ——1678

digitize1689

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] > examine by

gropec1000

handleOE

tastec1290

feela1400

grob1654

explore1689

grubblea1690

pouter1808

palpate1850

fingle1907

a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 208 If þou felist þe place wiþ þi fyngir.

a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Gen. xxvii. 22 Whanne he hadde feelid hym, Isaac seide [etc.].

1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. cxcv^v By king Edward, which loued well both to loke and to fele fayre dammosels.

1589 A. Barlowe in R. Hakluyt Principal Navigations 730 We knew not what mettall it should be..but feeling it, it would bowe very easily.

1611 Bible (King James) Judges xvi. 26 Suffer mee, that I may feele the pillars.

1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 15 You neede feele no other pulse than my heart.

1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 409 The maids..were not shy of being seen, nor of having their hair felt.

a1739 C. Jarvis tr. M. de Cervantes Don Quixote (1742) II. ii. vi. 117 I fell to feeling my head and breast, to be assured whether it was I my self, who was there, or some empty and counterfeit illusion.

1776 Trial Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 33/1 I felt his pulse.

1828 Lancet 27 Dec. 387/1 By feeling the head through the neck of the uterus [etc.].

1885 H. R. Haggard King Solomon's Mines vii He felt his chin, on which the accumulated scrub of a ten day's beard was flourishing.

1938 Foreign Service Feb. 12/3 I walked on slowly, feeling the slimy walls.

2005 L. Wagner Cool Painted Stuff 14 Feel the surface from time to time.

b. transitive. slang. To fondle intimately, esp. surreptitiously or without consent, for one's own sexual gratification. Also intransitive. Cf. to feel up at Phrasal verbs, feel n. 5a.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > other types of sexual activity or intercourse > engage in other types of sexual activity or intercourse [verb (transitive)] > stimulate genitals of (a person)

gropec1275

feel1569

goose1879

to play with ——1879

fingerc1890

to bring off1916

to feel up1926

to jack off?1927

reef1962

fingle1996

1569 J. Sanford tr. H. C. Agrippa Of Vanitie Artes & Sci. f. 101^v It is good not to touche a woman, which they [sc. Priestes, Monkes, etc.] not seldome feele with vnchaste handes.

1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster North-ward Hoe iii. i. sig. E Green... My wife's in your chamber, rise out of your bed, and see and you can feele her. Squi. He will feele her I warrant you?

c1650 in J. W. Hales & F. J. Furnivall Bp. Percy's Folio MS: Loose & Humorous Songs (1867) 30 I milder grew, & wold but feele: She said she was neuer felt, but kist.

1662 S. Pepys Diary 7 Sept. (1970) III. 191 I went up to her and played and talked with her and, God forgive me, did feel her; which I am much ashamed of.

1664 A. Wood Life 26 Jan. Kissed her and groped her and felt her brests.

1822 W. Hazlitt Let. 31 May (1978) 265 She wanted only a codpiece, and I ought to have pulled up her petticoats and felt her.

c1890 My Secret Life I. vi. 157 Then I pulled and hurt her again, threatening to hurt her more still unless she let me feel her.

1904 Lustful Mem. Young & Passionated Girl 37 I stood still only spreading my legs and let him feel.

1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 49 She cornered me when we had our break, and I was forced into feeling her.

2004 A. Hollinghurst Line of Beauty (2005) xii. 387 Wani felt his cock and Nick felt his arse.

c. transitive. To test or try by touching, as with the foot, a stick, etc.; to probe or move cautiously in order to test a surface, detect a response, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touch [verb (transitive)] > try by touching

fan1785

feel1795

1795 Scots Mag. Jan. 423/1 When the Tonguses think that they have found one [sc. a burrow], they feel it with the foot or spade whether the turf gives way.

1833 Regulations Instr. Cavalry i. ii. 49 Rein back—Forward—Press the calves of both legs, yield the hand for an instant, then feel the reins again.

1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling vii. 244 Feeling the fish..consists in raising the point of the rod so as to tighten the line sufficiently to enable you to feel the ‘tug, tug, tug’ made by the fish in detaining the worm.

1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Feel (S.S.), to examine the roof of a thick seam of coal with a long stick or rod by poking and knocking upon it.

1886 R. C. Leslie Sea-painter's Log 161 Feeling first one line and then another for a bite.

1926 D. L. Sayers Clouds of Witness xii. 220 He felt the ground carefully, selected a tussocky bit which seemed reasonably firm, and drove his stick well into it.

2004 B. Swissler Winning Lacrosse for Girls vii. 110 Feel the ball in your crosse and give back slightly before you release it.

14. transitive. With (chiefly interrogative) clause as object. To try to ascertain by handling or touching. Formerly also occasionally with simple object and clause.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] > try to ascertain by

assay1366

feela1400

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18695 Thomas þou fele and se Quer I me-self or noght it be.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3693 Lat me fele, If þu be he i loue sua wele.

a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 270 Þou miȝt fele in what place þei goon in.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 556 Ther nys a fairer nekke Iwys To fele how smothe and softe it is.

1525 tr. H. von Brunschwig Noble Experyence Vertuous Handy Warke Surg. lxviii. sig. O.iv^v/1 Lay your hande theron & fele yf it be broken.

1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xxvii. 21 Come neere..that I may feele thee..whether thou bee my very sonne Esau, or not.

1648 J. Beaumont Psyche iii. lix. 30 Three times hee..felt How to unbuckle his out-shined Belt.

1743 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman May vi. 74 Feel if her Milk-vein is large.

1766 S. Sharp Lett. from Italy iv. 17 When you begin to beg they would hang them [sc. sheets] before the fire, they desire you will feel how wet they are.

1816 Ld. Byron Parisina xv, in Siege of Corinth 81 The headsman..Feels if the axe be sharp and true—Since he set its edge anew.

1890 St. Nicholas Sept. 972/2 He..passed his hand around my sword-belt to feel whether or not my revolver was there.

1920 E. M. Kelley Outside Inn ix. 138 ‘I'm going to take you up in my arms,’ said Nancy with sudden passion. ‘I want to feel how thin you are.’

2010 D. Zeltserman Outsourced x. 87 She put her palm up against his forehead, trying to feel if he had a fever.

15.

†a. transitive. To test or find out by careful investigation; to sound out (a person, or a person's attitude or intentions). Cf. to feel out 1 at Phrasal verbs. Obsolete except as in sense 15b.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > question, interrogate [verb (transitive)] > indirectly or cautiously

feel1425

undermine1574

sound1575

undercrop1596

to draw out1778

1425 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Apr. 1425 §12. m. 4 Þe materes yoven in for my lordes partie erle mareschall, wele considered, and ripely felt, shold prove his title, right and possession.

1432–40 J. Willoughby in Paston Lett. (1904) II. 44 That ye lust of yowr grace to comyne with my Lord of Salisbury, and to fele him in the mater, and as ye fele him, hit please yowre lordesship I may have knowlege.

1465 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 137 Fele what he menyth.

a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xx. 230 Bot yit some fawt must we feyll Wherfor that he shuld dy.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxiii^v Thei had felte the myndes and ententes, of the rude people.

1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. ii. 90 Adding..that to that purpose he had felt the cohort.

1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear ii. 86 He hath wrote this to feele my affection to your honour.

1664 Sir C. Lyttelton in E. M. Thompson Corr. Family of Hatton (1878) I. 41 To feele the French how they will concerne themselves between us and y^e Dutch.

1836 H. R. Howard Hist. Virgil A. Stewart 107 I felt him on the subject of speculation, but he cursed the speculators.

b. transitive. Military. To carefully examine the nature of (a tract of ground); to test (an enemy) or establish (an enemy's strength or position), esp. by launching limited attacks to draw out its forces. Cf. to feel for —— 3 at Phrasal verbs, to feel out 3 at Phrasal verbs.figurative in quot. 1768.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (transitive)] > examine (ground) in preparation for attack

feel1768

1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 99 Her preparing the way for her nephew, by first playing off and feeling the ground by a counterfeit.

1779 tr. Duke of Berwick Mem. I. 240 I perceived that the enemy were feeling their ground very cautiously.

1793 W. Bentinck Let. 30 Apr. in Ld. Auckland Jrnl. & Corr. (1862) III. 47 I mentioned my wish of feeling that ground to L^d. Loughborough.

1829 W. F. Napier Hist. War Peninsula II. vii. iv. 246 Loison felt the Portuguese at Pezo de Ragoa.

1848 J. Grant Adventures Aide-de-camp I. vii. 92 Order Lieutenant Colonel Kempt to throw forward the whole of his light infantry..to ‘feel’ the enemy.

1864 D. Stevenson Indiana's Roll of Honor I. ii. 50 While gathering information respecting the enemy's strength, he was willing our men should test their ability on his outposts, and occasionally feel his position.

1914 Observer 16 Aug. 4/6 These attempts to feel the Belgian strength and positions were carried out with dare-devil spirit.

1993 H. W. Pfanz Gettysburg: Culp's Hill & Cemetery Hill ix. 130 Johnson's division east of Gettysburg put out skirmishers early on 2 July to feel the enemy in its front.

Phrases

P1. to feel (out) one's way and variants: to find one's way by groping or treading carefully; (figurative) to proceed cautiously or tentatively.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > try experiments or make experiment [verb (intransitive)] > proceed tentatively

to feel (out) one's waya1450

to grope one's way1862

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (intransitive)] > grope about

feela1382

to fathom aboutc1400

to feel (out) one's waya1450

grabble1579

pouter1812

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > be cautious or take care [verb (intransitive)] > proceed with caution

to make it wisec1405

to feel (out) one's waya1450

to beat the bush1526

to beat about the bush1572

callc1650

to call canny1814

go-easy1860

to plough around1888

pussyfoot1902

to play it by ear1922

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > move forward or advance [verb (intransitive)] > effect forward movement in specific way > tentatively or by feeling

to grope one's way1574

to feel (out) one's way1638

to fumble one's way1801

a1450 ( Libel Eng. Policy (Laud) in T. Wright Polit. Poems & Songs (1861) II. 165 He [sc. kynge Edwarde] felde the weyes to reule well the see.

1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos iii. sig. H.iij A post in hand he bare of mighty Pyne, and therwithall He felt his way, and led his sheepe.

1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants i. ii. §144. 108 While we have our eyes, we need not feele out our way.

1688 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. sig. Y/3 A blind Man that feels his Way with a stick.

1758 J. Lawson Lect. conc. Oratory xxiii. 436 We can proceed only by Conjecture; like one walking in dim Twilight, feeling out our Way, and chusing our Steps with much timorous Caution.

1818 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto IV lxxxi. 43 We but feel our way to err.

1862 G. MacDonald David Elginbrod ii. xxviii An aging moon was feeling her path somewhere through the heavens.

1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xiv. 217 Cæsar..feeling his way with his cavalry.

1910 Christian Reg. (Boston) 25 Aug. 911/1 He felt out his way alone to faith in a better God and a saner universe.

2000 D. Adebayo My Once upon Time (2001) ii. 12 I killed the lights, felt my way down the stairs and landings, [etc.].

P2. to feel as if, to feel as though: (with following clause) to have a subjective impression or experience likened to the specified situation or event.

ΚΠ

1534 J. Fewterer tr. U. Pinder Myrrour Christes Passion ii. f. cxxvii^v When he was borne..she felte as if halfe her herte had bene borne and departed from her body.

1606 R. Chambers tr. P. Numan Miracles lately Wrought 210 He felt as if certain strings had been broken in his eyes.

1666 J. Bunyan Grace Abounding ⁋80 These suggestions..did so over-weigh my heart..that I felt as if there were nothing else but these from morning to night within me.

1742 D. Brainerd Diary 4 Nov. in Acct. Life D. Brainerd (1765) 49 The Lord will not allow me to feel as though I were fully supplied and satisfied.

1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 58 While we were asunder, we felt as if a limb was wanting.

1802 J. Baillie Second Marriage i. i, in Plays II. 366 When I look upon her poor children playing about, I feel as tho' they were my own flesh and blood.

1816 S. Gridley Diss. Importance & Associability Human Stomach 4 They experienced this distressing sensation, and felt as though the stomach was rolling over.

1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate vi I must go with you. I feel as if I could not bear to stay behind!

1917 A. Cahan Rise of David Levinsky (1993) ix. xi. 269 The jargon of that column made me feel as though I had never learned any English at all.

2011 New Yorker 18 Apr. 126/3 This is the kind of show that makes us feel as if we had a seat at the dining-room table.

P3. to feel one's feet (also legs, wings): to be conscious of one's abilities; to be at ease or comfortable in oneself; (more generally) to be firmly established or settled in a particular environment or situation. Occasionally also: (of a child or young animal) to be able to stand or walk. Cf. to find one's feet at find v. Phrases 3.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > be able to [verb (intransitive)] > be conscious of or develop one's powers

to feel one's feet (also legs, wings)1579

to find one's feet1977

the mind > emotion > calmness > compose or make calm [verb (transitive)] > be calm or composed

to feel one's feet (also legs, wings)1579

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > feel or be confident [verb (intransitive)]

wit1297

to know one's own mind1658

to feel one's feet (also legs, wings)1889

1579 E. K. in E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Ep. Ded. So flew Virgile, as not yet well feeling his wings.

1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia viii. 427 Give me leave to come leisurely to London, that in that time I may feel my Legs, and try how agreeable the natural Sweets of England by degrees may be.

a1776 J. Griffith Jrnl. Life, Trav., & Labours in Work of Ministry (1779) 28 They..gave me full opportunity to make proof of my ministry, and to feel my feet therein.

1860 Punch 2 June 220/2 That little tiny tottering thing [sc. a baby] just learning to feel its legs.

1881 Daily Tel. 27 Dec. It was not until the last act that he ‘felt his legs’.

1889 Farmer's Mag. Dec. 217 Trees put in now cannot be expected to succeed as well as those that are already beginning to ‘feel their feet’.

1912 Ld. Redesdale Let. 10 May in E. Gosse Life A. C. Swinburne (1917) (App. I) 320 It was at Eton that he began to feel his wings.

1932 C. Clark Shakespeare & National Char. xxii. 274 Englishmen..were beginning to feel their feet in the new paths of exploration and discovery.

2007 M. J. Staples Price of Freedom i. 13 Lots of women are beginning to feel their feet these days, and I'm one of them.

P4. Nautical. to feel her (also the) helm: (of a ship) to respond to movement of the helm. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > action or motion of vessel > [verb (transitive)] > be influenced or affected by

to feel her helm1591

1591 W. Raleigh Rep. Fight Iles of Açores sig. B2 The shippe could neither make way nor feele the helme.

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 5 Many times the ships will feele no helme.

1749 E. Turrell Life B. Colman iii. 13 They called to them not to stir for their Lives, lest the Vessel upon such a Motion within should not feel her Helm.

1838 J. F. Cooper Homeward Bound I. xi. 163 The ship's head was to the south-southwest, her drift considerable, and her way of course barely sufficient to cause her to feel her helm.

1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Feel the helm, To have good steerage way, carrying taut weather-helm, which gives command of steerage. Also said of a ship when she has gained headway after standing still and begins to obey the helm.

1920 Federal Reporter 261 621 The collision came so soon that the witnesses for the schooner all testify that the schooner did not have time to feel her helm.

1970 Times 9 Jan. 4/2 The Moyle was just feeling her helm when there was a bump aft, and heavy vibration.

P5. to make oneself (also one's presence) felt: to have a significant effect or influence, esp. indirectly.

ΚΠ

1626 T. Hawkins tr. N. Caussin Holy Court I. ii. i. 119 The thoughts of a Diuinity..make themselves felt [Fr. se font sentir] with very piercing points.

1752 D. Hume Polit. Disc. iv. 77 The whole money may still be in the state, and make itself felt by the encrease of prices.

1795 Confiscation Considered 44 The British Army has scarcely ever appeared..in any country, without making its presence felt.

1857 J. C. Stretton Lady of Glynne I. viii. 65 It took me a long time to learn, that to be duly valued, you must make yourself felt in some way.

1931 Washington Post Sept. 27 7/5 Soviet Russia is making herself felt in Egyptian markets.

2014 Evening Times (Glasgow) (Nexis) 26 Nov. (Sport section) 42 He is Celtic's most influential player and I know he will make his presence felt tomorrow night.

P6. to feel like.

a. To have a subjective impression or conviction of being.

ΚΠ

1771 R. Cumberland West Indian iv. viii. 76 She has cooled the lad's courage, and wonders he feels like a coward.

1786 County Mag. Sept. 134/2 I felt like a man who is neither old nor insensible.

1801 R. Southey Thalaba I. i. 3 She felt like one Half-wakened from a midnight dream of blood.

1860 Widow Bedott Papers 108 Them special efforts is great things—ever since I come out, I've felt like a new critter.

1919 H. L. Wilson Ma Pettengill viii. 253 It made him feel like a social cull or an outcast, or something.

2012 J. Thayil Narcopolis i. iii. 38 I felt like an interloper from the future.

b. colloquial (originally U.S.). With gerund, verbal noun, or noun phrase: to wish to do or have something; to have an inclination for. Cf. like adj. 6.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > wish or inclination > wish or be disposed or inclined [verb]

willeOE

listc1200

to be of (also in) (a) minda1325

to will well that1340

likea1375

to find in one's hearta1393

to have a minda1400

pleasec1450

set1470

to have a mind1530

care1560

fadge1592

please1611

choose1622

offer1639

to feel like1808

1808 N. Bisbee Hist. Falcos iii. ii. 85 He will not feel much like going to old Recrementa's to-night, to have a frolic there.

1865 U. S. Grant in Cent. Mag. (1889) Nov. 142/2 I now feel like ending the matter..before we go back.

1887 E. H. D'Avigdor Loose Rein 165 He did not feel like lunch.

1944 M. Laski Love on Supertax viii. 82 I'll go straight home. I don't feel exactly like a street-corner meeting.

1970 W. J. Burley To kill Cat ii. 45 They had a drink together, then Helen said that she felt like bed.

2011 Time Out N.Y. 21 Apr. 16/2 If you feel like sampling some of the sweets, try the signature Papa Payard.

P7. to feel to: to be inclined to do something (chiefly U.S.); (also) to imagine or have the impression of doing something.

ΚΠ

1804 J. Southcott True Explan. Bible: Pt. 1st iii. 241 When she thinks of the beginning of his conduct, love and anger wounds her breast; she feels to pity him, and feels to be sorry for him.

1836 Going to Service xii. 141 People would take liberties with her, and I should feel to have to take care of her.

1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) (at cited word) To feel to do a thing is an expression commonly used by some clergymen, for to feel inclined, to be disposed to do it.

1866 London Society Oct. 315/2 When he wants one [sc. a cigar], he takes it; when he does not feel to want one, he goes without it.

1891 A. Forbes in 19th Cent. Dec. 1018 In reading which one feels to hear the turmoil of the battle.

1943 G. G. Coulton Fourscore Years 323 He would write in the light of what he now feels to know.

1948 Z. N. Hurston Seraph on Suwanee xv. 139 She could creep out there at times unbeknowings to Jim and handle them when she felt to.

1978 J. Updike Coup (1979) ii. 48 Kutunda..felt to occupy the only undistorted quadrant of the car.

2005 J. M. Chernoff Exchange is not Robbery v. 181 And one other day, I was feeling to do something like bluffing.

P8. to feel (quite) oneself, to feel (quite) like oneself, and variants: to seem to oneself to be in one's usual state of health or frame of mind.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > be in state of health [verb (intransitive)] > be in usual health

to live and lookc1390

to be myselfa1675

to feel (quite) oneself1812

to look oneself1822

to feel (quite) like oneself1838

to feel (like) myself1886

1812 J. Galt Maddalen iii. viii, in Tragedies 53 I now begin to feel myself again.

1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist III. xliii. 141 I don't feel like myself when you lay that withered old claw on my shoulder, so take it away.

1865 Mrs. H. Wood Mildred Arkell I. ix I don't feel myself.

1890 Boston Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 27 Nov. 515/1 For some two weeks..he had not felt quite like himself, but he had had absolutely no cough.

1913 H. S. Harrison V. V.'s Eyes xxviii. 404 Cally had to assure him half a dozen times in as many blocks that she felt quite herself again.

1950 A. White Lost Traveller vi. i. 259 Will you let him come and talk to you when you're feeling a little more yourself?

2011 S. Busbee Rapture becomes Her iv. 61 His lordship is not feeling himself—we think it was something he ate.

2014 D. Macomber Love Lett. (2016) 113 Ellie didn't feel like herself in the morning until she had a cup of coffee.

P9. colloquial. to feel up to: to consider oneself capable of; to have the strength or energy for. Cf. up adv.² 19a(a).

ΚΠ

1829 New Monthly Mag. 26 233 On mornings when I did not feel up to conclusions with any thing very formidable.

1841 F. Trollope Charles Chesterfield v. 47 ‘Do you feel up to a little écarté, Amelia?’ ‘I am fit for nothing else,’ replied the lady.

1884 Graphic 30 Aug. 231/1 I did not feel up to much fatigue.

1923 Boys' Life Oct. 59/1 If I didn't feel up to taking the responsibilities it would be better to drop the thing altogether.

2000 M. Gayle Turning Thirty lxxix. 290 Two hours and several all-day breakfasts later, we were all feeling up to doing something with the day.

P10. colloquial. to feel one's age: to become aware or be reminded that one is no longer young.

ΚΠ

1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Disowned I. xx. 335 For the first time in my life I felt my age and my celibacy.

1868 Sunshine & Shade I. xiv. 225 We are getting very old, Mr. Rowe; these young people make us feel our age.

1937 Life Nov. 13/3 (advt.) When digestion slows down you feel your age.

1986 Washington Post 16 Nov. b6/1 I know what it is. It's all that young blood in Congress. You're feeling your age.

2014 Sc. Express (Nexis) 8 Oct. (Editorial section) 18 She is starting to feel her age when she looks at recent pictures of herself.

P11. colloquial (originally U.S.). feel free to (do something): used as an invitation or for reassurance to tell someone that he or she has the speaker's permission to perform a particular action; ‘don't hesitate’ (to do the thing specified). Also elliptically as feel free: ‘go ahead’, ‘please do’.

ΚΠ

1897 Midland Monthly Mag. Oct. 335/1 ‘Please feel free to tell us just what you think about this..problem.’ Mr. Fargo..whispered, ‘Go ahead, Maud—-say what you like.’

1922 Northwestern Druggist May 34/1 What do you do? Feel free to write us about it.

1948 Univ. Mich. School Educ. Bull. Dec. 35 Feel free to change your plans for using the consultant after he has arrived.

1989 G. E. Klyve & C. G. Oakley Legend of Perseus iii. 86 ‘You don't mind do you?’ said the pirate... ‘Oh no. Not at all. By all means. Feel free.’

2009 E. Thom Tin-kin 33 Come and ask us if you're needing anything. Feel free.

P12. slang. to feel the draught: to be seriously troubled or inconvenienced; to feel insecure, esp. financially.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > adversity > be in adversity [verb (intransitive)]

tholec897

pinea1225

steada1300

endure1340

to well in woea1350

labourc1450

concernc1592

to have a good (bad, etc.) time (of it, formerly on it)1647

to have the wind in one's face1649

to be on (also at) the receiving end1909

to feel the draught1925

to have (one's) ass in a sling1960

to be in lumber1965

the mind > possession > poverty > be poor [verb (intransitive)]

to have needOE

needa1300

to have mistera1400

to be low in the world1521

lack1523

pinch1549

to be beforehand (also behindhand) in (or with) the world1615

to feel the pinch1861

to feel the draught1925

1925 Westm. Gaz. 27 Apr. When the wind changed it might be the Conservative Party which would be feeling the draught.

1941 N. Marsh Surfeit of Lampreys vii. 103 ‘Did he go bust?’..‘I don't think so, Curtis. Must have felt the draught a bit.’

1970 Financial Times 13 Apr. 13/3 If..the bigger firms in the private sector felt the draught and turned their attention to smaller orders, the lesser firms could suffer badly.

2013 N. Devon Jrnl. (Nexis) 8 Aug. 33 Smaller businesses..must be feeling the draught as customers—already hit by rising prices from here to eternity—simply stay away.

P13. slang (originally U.S.). to feel no pain: to be insensibly drunk.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > be drunk > be insensibly drunk

begonec1370

to feel no pain1929

1929 San Antonio (Texas) Express 20 Oct. 6 d/3 By dinner time the Judge was feeling no pain.

1947 C. Morley Ironing Board (1950) 116 At the table with three men who were feeling no pain.

1965 B. Sweet-Escott Baker St. Irregular iii. 94 A vast quantity of vodka was drunk, and twice I saw senior Russian officers being carried out of the room evidently feeling no pain.

2000 J. P. Bolnick & T. S. Living at Edge of World 131 By then I was feeling no pain. I was dozing off at Mansky's desk when Sergeant Johnson came in.

P14. to feel in one's bones: see bone n.¹ Phrases 1b(c). to feel someone's collar: see collar n. 8a. to feel the earth move: see earth n.¹ Phrases 10. to feel the pinch: see pinch n. 7b.

Phrasal verbs

to feel after ——

intransitive. To search or grope about for (literal and figurative). Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > search for or seek [verb (transitive)] > search about for

to search out?a1400

to look about1536

to feel after ——?1557

study1561

to feel for ——1569

to look out for1578

to lay out1624

to look round1630

to lay about1755

prospect1854

roust1870

to look around1927

?1557 Deceyte Women sig. f.ii^v My husbande is very soone awake, and..he neuer waketh, but he doth fele after me.

1611 Bible (King James) Acts xvii. 27 If haply they might feele after him, and finde him.

1768 J. Wesley Jrnl. 23 Apr. (1827) III. 308 Just awakening, and darkly feeling after God.

1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick lxi. 320 As if cautiously seeking to feel after some gold watch that the whale might have swallowed.

1883 H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spiritual World (ed. 2) viii. 300 The soul.., waving its tentacles piteously in the empty air, feeling after God if so be that it may find Him.

1918 M. P. Follett New State Introd. 3 Group organization will create the new world we are now blindly feeling after.

to feel for ——

1. intransitive. To have sympathy with or compassion for (a person).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > compassion > feel pity for [verb (transitive)] > sympathize with

yfeeleOE

to feel for ——a1533

sympathize1607

to go out1628

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1535) ii. Let. x. f. 128 I fele for the, as thou haste felte for me [Fr. ie sentz pour toy ce que tu as senty pour moy].

1696 T. Southerne Oroonoko iii. ii. 39 I feel for my Imoinda and my self; Imoinda much the tenderest part of me.

1718 C. Cibber Non-juror v. 67 A Heart of Stone might feel for her.

1775 J. Livingston Let. 4 Sept. in J. Judd Corr. Van Cortlandt Family (1977) 18 You cannot but feel for a Brother & interest yourself in the feelings of your family.

1809 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) IV. 525 No man can see his army perish by want without feeling for them.

1890 S. O. Jewett Strangers & Wayfarers 16 I feel for Mis' Peak an' Mis' Ash, pore creatur's.

1957 H. Miller Big Sur & Oranges H. Bosch 351 Believe me, I feel for you. But you must try to do something for yourself.

2014 London Rev. Bks. 31 July 28/4 I felt for the guard who has to stay there in the room.

2. intransitive. To search or grope about for.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > search for or seek [verb (transitive)] > search about for

to search out?a1400

to look about1536

to feel after ——?1557

study1561

to feel for ——1569

to look out for1578

to lay out1624

to look round1630

to lay about1755

prospect1854

roust1870

to look around1927

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 1337 Then tyed she the Handkerchefe about her eyes, and feeling for the block she sayd, where is it, where is it?

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 134 Let him..feele for the blaines, or blisters.

1652 Lillys Lament. 7 Feeling for his purse, he found nothing but the strings, which he had fastened to the Wast-band of his Breeches.

1691 Arraignm., Trials, & Condemnation Sir R. Grahme 93 The Captain run his Hands into his Coat-Pockets, to feel for Papers, as I suppose.

1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 22 Putting my Hand in my Pocket to feel for something else.

1794 T. Holcroft Adventures Hugh Trevor II. ii. 30 A third [man] came behind me, put his hand gently round my waist, and felt for the chain.

1839 T. Beale Nat. Hist. Sperm Whale 46 Moving the tail slowly from side to side..as if feeling for the boat.

1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table iv. 86 The old gentleman..opened it [sc. a snuff-box] and felt for the wonted pugil.

1868 J. H. Blunt Reformation Church of Eng. I. 294 The king began to feel about for further augmentations of his revenue.

1904 P. F. Warner How we recovered Ashes xiii. 253 He again got Clem Hill feeling for the ball.

2003 S. Mawer Fall (2004) Prol. 2 He was actually feeling for a piton that had been there for the last thirty-five years.

3. intransitive. Military. To try to ascertain the position or presence of (an enemy), esp. by launching limited attacks to draw out its forces. Cf. sense 15b.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military operations > [verb (transitive)] > reconnoitre (a place) > the enemy or his position

discover1487

recognize1637

recognosce1637

reconnoitre1705

unmask1733

to feel for ——?1795

observe1853

spot1914

?1795 Hist. J. G. Semple 33 He began to meditate the best positions of attack, then to feel for the enemy.

1829 W. F. Napier Hist. War Peninsula II. viii. ii. 292 Syveira..had orders to feel towards Mezamfrio for the enemy.

1847 Infantry Man. (1854) 96 An advanced guard..must proceed with..precaution if feeling for an enemy.

1871 E. W. Bray Military Lect. 6 The Cavalry Outposts, which had started early in the morning, to feel for the enemy.

1908 Jrnl. Royal Artillery 34 307/1 These detachments contained one or two batteries of artillery, and were intended to feel for the enemy's whereabouts.

2012 A. C. Ellis Mass. Andrew Sharpshooters xiv. 168 After marching a few miles, they threw out skirmishers and flankers to feel for the enemy.

to feel into ——

intransitive. Chiefly Psychology and Aesthetics. To enter imaginatively into; to bring oneself to identify or empathize with. [In later use, and perhaps already in quot. 1857, after German einfühlen, especially as used by F. T. Vischer (1851 or earlier), R. Vischer, and T. Lipps (compare feeling n. 12, einfühlung n., and empathy n. 2a).]

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > identification with other > identify with other [verb (intransitive)]

to feel into ——1857

empathize1916

grok1961

the mind > mental capacity > psychology > theory of psychoanalysis > libido > transfer of feelings > sympathize [verb (intransitive)]

to feel into ——1919

1857 Guardian May 136 We would say to the reader—read yourself into it—think yourself into it—feel yourself into it.

1898 Mind 7 105 We..‘feel ourselves into’ the colours and sounds which we enjoy.

1905 Jrnl. Philos., Psychol. & Sci. Methods 2 640 This also characterizes the Einfühlung,..when I ‘feel myself into the object’, as it were.

1919 M. K. Bradby Psycho-anal. xviii. 239 He feels himself into the mind of the man or woman..he is studying.

1933 H. Read Art Now i. 50 We do not necessarily humanise the rising column or the graceful vase which we contemplate: we feel into their shape..and react to..its rhythmic convolution; and so we invent the word empathy.

2007 Jrnl. Relig. & Health 46 291 An empathic connection is established through the therapist feeling herself into the confusion and distress of the client.

to feel of ——

†1. intransitive. To experience or undergo; to be affected by. Cf. sense 2. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be affected by some action

haveeOE

to feel of ——c1390

feel1487

c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 149 Let þi neiȝhebor..of þi frendschupe fele.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19372 Þat þai moght of na torfer fele.

1580 F. K. Of Crinitall Starre sig. Av^v I finde that the effect of his [sc. the Crinital Starre's] shadowes shal be seene in those places which be neere to the Ryuer of Rhene, and Danubius, so that Germany shal feele of it.

†2. intransitive. Perhaps: to handle, administer. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > worship > sacrament > [verb (transitive)] > administer

minister1340

to feel of ——c1475

c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 30 It is necesari to hem..to fele of þe sacraments of God.

3. intransitive. To touch or handle. Now chiefly U.S.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)]

repeOE

warpa1225

treatc1384

feela1400

palp1534

palpabrize1593

fista1616

handa1616

thrumble1632

to set (one's) hand to1638

to feel of ——1678

digitize1689

1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World iii. ix. 148 Being entred the Chamber, and sate down, he felt of his pulse.

1751 R. Paltock Life Peter Wilkins II. xviii. 221 There were many large Heaps of Ore lying, which I felt of.

1780 C. A. Burney in F. Burney's Early Diary (1889) II. 289 One Character came to feel of it [sc. his mask].

1864 E. Sargent Peculiar II. 262 Josephine..felt of the bosom of Clara's dress till [etc.].

1878 N. H. Bishop Voy. Paper Canoe 99 Crowds of people came to feel of the canoe.

1924 C. E. Mulford Rustlers' Valley xiii. 154 He was feeling of a seal ring in his pocket.

1939 P. Sturges Amazing Marriage in A. Horton Three More Screenplays (1998) 429 Aunt Emma (Feeling of the nightgown). Land sakes, child, you want to catch pneumonia?

a1961 E. Hemingway Garden of Eden (1987) iii. xiv. 127 She was gone for about ten minutes and he felt of the girl's drink and decided to drink it before it got warm.

2009 M. W. Hollon Mushroom Kingdom 278 She felt of the side of her neck and felt a deep cut there.

to feel out

1. transitive. To search out or explore by feeling or testing; to touch or reach for cautiously or tentatively.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > try, test [verb (transitive)]

cuneOE

afondOE

found1340

searcha1382

experiment1481

experience1541

probe1542

try1545

invent1548

sound1589

to bring or put to the test1594

plumb1599

to feel out1600

essay1656

test1748

plumb-line1875

to try out1888

1600 R. Jones First Bk. Songes Lute sig. F4^v Since mine eies cannot endure so heauenly sparke, Sweet grant that I may still feele out my loue by darke.

1697 J. Scott Pract. Disc. I. 318 He walks like a benighted Traveller in a dangerous Road, and is fain to feel out his Steps.

1707 J. Stevens tr. Life Estevanillo Gonzales xiv, in Spanish Libertines 523 I was so Fortunate in feeling out the Sally-Port, that I found the Lock before he met with his Sword.

1799 E. Meeke Ellesmere III. x. 257 Clement had been feeling out the pannel while she was speaking.

1835 A. B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes 242 These [chills] I had to bear for the space of a minute or two before I could feel out my hat.

1892 H. R. Mill Realm of Nature xi. 188 The form of the floor of the ocean has thus been gradually felt out point by point.

1952 R. A. Brower tr. Homer Odyssey ix, in Classics in Transl. I. 65/1 Feeling out the right spot with my hand.

1999 K. Sampson Powder 9 His right hand instinctively swooped into his pocket, feeling out Rizlas, grass, lighter.

2. transitive. To test, look for, or find out by careful investigation or observation; to sound out (a person, or a person's feelings or intentions).

ΚΠ

1631 W. Saltonstall Picturæ Loquentes sig. D7 If you come to borrow money of him [sc. an vsurer], if hee feele out your necessity, hee'le be sure to make you pay for't.

1758 London Mag. Oct. 512/2 From the vivacity of her penetration, she soon felt out the king's weak side.

1785 J. Adams Let. 31 Aug. in Diplomatic Corr. United States 1783–89 IV. 352 In order to feel out the sentiments of the people concerning a treaty of commerce with France.

1828 W. Johns Spirit Serampore Syst. vii. 64 The Serampore missionaries might have ‘felt out’ the inapplicability of their principles to practice.

1865 Bibliotheca Sacra Apr. 221 Those who..‘feel out’ the truth, throwing away what their feelings dislike as legendary and false.

1928 Publishers' Weekly 9 June 2376 I cannot stress enough..the necessity of feeling out the possibilities of a book before giving a large order.

1969 D. Acheson Present at Creation ix. 78 Relations with him became easier..as we felt one another out.

2004 enRoute Sept. 30 I'm in the German capital to feel out some of the planet's wildest and craziest nightlife.

3. transitive. Military. To test the strength of (enemy forces) or ascertain (the enemy's position) by launching limited attacks. Cf. sense 15b.

ΚΠ

1891 C. L. Norton Handbk. Florida v. 336 The Federals nevertheless maintained the offensive, bringing up Hamilton's battery of light artillery, and feeling out the enemy's position.

1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words Feel out, of Artillery ranging until a desired target or objective is attained.

1941 Life 10 Feb. 20/1 The British plan was merely to feel out the Italians with new Chrystie cruiser tanks.

2013 S. Marble Brit. Artillery on Western Front iii. 45 By 9 a.m. the Germans were feeling out the British flank, preparing their frontal assault.

† to feel together

intransitive. To come into contact; to meet. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (intransitive)]

to feel togethera1500

occur1533

alight1591

bemeet1656

encounter1822

the world > space > distance > nearness > be near [verb (intransitive)] > be in contact > be in close contact > come into close contact

to feel togethera1500

to come to (the) grasp?1584

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin ii. 38 As soone as these dragons felen to-geder thei will fighten strongely.

to feel up

slang (originally U.S.).

transitive. To fondle intimately, esp. surreptitiously or without consent, for one's own sexual gratification. Cf. to touch up 2 at touch v. Phrasal verbs.

ΘΚΠ

gropec1275

feel1569

goose1879

to play with ——1879

fingerc1890

to bring off1916

to feel up1926

to jack off?1927

reef1962

fingle1996

1926 A. C. Inman Diary 25 Feb. (1985) I. 294 Married the man she did because he was only one she knew wasn't always ‘playin' aroun' to feel up my legs, an' such like’.

1930 J. Dos Passos 42nd Parallel i. 75 She's awful hot. Jez I thought she was going to feel me up.

1957 J. Kerouac On the Road ii. xi. 175 We used to get next to pretty young daughters and feel them up in the kitchen.

1970 S. Ellin Man from Nowhere i. 9 We're supposed to be married. He might wonder about it if I let him feel you up in front of me without showing I didn't like it.

2003 A. Notaro Back after Break xxii. 206 You haven't been to one of Debbie's parties. Lots of pilots who think they're God's gift trying to feel you up.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	feel
释义	feeln. Brit. /fiːl/, U.S. /fil/, Scottish English /fil/ Forms: see feel v. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: feel v. Etymology: < feel v.Compare Old Frisian fēle , Dutch voel (1621), Middle High German vüele (German †Fühle ). It has been suggested that the following disputed passage shows an earlier attestation of the word, but it is much more likely to show fele adv. (or fele adj.²):a1250 Wohunge ure Lauerd in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 285 Þe muchele swetnesse of þe reaues me fele of pine. Old English fēlelēas (see feelless adj.) probably does not imply earlier currency of the noun. Originally northern and Scottish. 1. The sense of touch. Now only in to the feel. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > [noun] gropingc1000 toucha1398 feela1400 tastea1400 tastinga1400 touching?c1400 tact1651 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17017 Hering, sight, smelling and fele, cheuing er wittes five. 1753 J. Nelson Ess. Govt. Children 109 When a Child approaches to two Years old, they [sc. stays] are then made stronger; that is, stiffer to the Feel. 1812 H. Davy Elements Chem. Philos. 180 It is harsher to the feel. 1874 Contemp. Rev. 24 433 A rough texture to the feel. 1883 G. C. Davies Norfolk Broads (1884) xxxi. 237 It [sc. the bed-eel]..is firm to the feel. 1919 Jrnl. Engineers' Club Philadelphia 36 451/1 That portion of the dust which is gritty to the feel and consists of fairly large particles of material. 1991 A. D. Bell Plant Form (1993) i. 82/3 Parts of plants are generally described as ‘succulent’ if they are particularly fleshy, not woody, to the feel. †2. a. Chiefly Scottish. Mental perception or apprehension; understanding, comprehension; knowledge. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > [noun] i-witnessc888 knowledging?c1225 wittinga1300 beknowing1340 sciencec1350 bekenningc1380 knowinga1398 knowledgea1398 meaninga1398 cunningshipa1400 feela1400 understanda1400 cognizancec1400 kenningc1400 witc1400 recognizancec1436 cognition1447 recognitionc1450 cognoscencec1540 conscience1570 comprehension1597 comprehense1604 cognizant1634 sciency1642 scibility1677 the mind > mental capacity > understanding > [noun] > understanding, comprehension knowing1340 taking1395 apprehending1398 feela1400 conceitc1405 perceitc1460 comprehension?15.. intellection?1526 apprension1589 making-outa1601 reception1612 uptaking1614 perceivancy1649 comprehending1668 recognition1749 prehension1836 prension1837 wavelength1925 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 547 Man has his fele, O thyng man liks, il or welle. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 14 Thocht Inglismen thar-of had litill feille. a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 2854 That..was knycht that had most feill. 1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus i. f. 9 Of that Text thow hes bot litill feill. 1603 Philotus cxxvii. sig. E3 Hes thow not tint thy feill. 1662 Meire of Collingtoun 19 If they had had any feel That I had made them such a reel. b. Consciousness, sensory awareness. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > [noun] > physical sensation feelinga1225 witc1290 sentimentc1374 perceivinga1398 scentc1422 feelc1450 sensation1598 aesthesis1601 sensing1613 sensity1613 resentment1634 perceptiona1652 scenting1657 sensating1666 awaring1674 sensitivity1819 sense perception1846 sentition1865 the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > emotional perception > [noun] sentimentc1374 feelinga1425 feelc1450 apprehension1605 sensibleness1605 sensea1616 sensibility1634 emotional intelligence1872 c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 850 (MED) Has þou na force in þi fete, ne fele of þi-selfe? †3. Scottish. An idea or shrewd suspicion about something; a tentative suggestion or hint. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > communication > information > hint or covert suggestion > [noun] feelc1485 inkling1529 intimation1531 insinuation1532 by-warning1542 byword1542 item1561 cue1565 air1567 vent1613 insusurration1614 hinta1616 injection1622 indication1626 infusion1641 side glance1693 ground bass1699 touch1706 side view1747 sidewipe1757 allusion1766 penumbra1770 breath1795 slyness1823 by-hint1853 light1854 shove1857 suggestion1863 sous-entendu1865 point1870 sidewiper1870 sniff1936 c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Gouernaunce of Princis (1993) xxxv. 113 Na lat thame neuer haue a fele jn quham thou fyes the maist. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xi. l. 937 Off Gyane thus quhen Wallace had a feill, No land, he said, likit him haiff so weill. a1525 Bk. Chess 496 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1923) I His moder gat a feile That in the counsall hous this child had bene. 1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxvi. 133 Gif that he tuik sum pynis That mys to mend, I hope ʒe haif ane feill. 4. a. Feeling, sensation (physical or mental); a particular feeling, impression, or sensation. to get the feel of (originally U.S.): to become familiar with the characteristic sensation or impression of, to become accustomed to. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > [noun] > an emotion affection?c1225 passiona1250 motionc1390 feelinga1413 feelc1485 motivec1485 stirring1552 emotive1596 emotion1602 resentment1622 sentiment1652 sensation1674 flavour1699 aftertaste1702 pathy1837 the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > [noun] > physical sensation > a physical sensation feelinga1425 feelc1485 sense1547 sensation1557 impressure1607 impressa1616 impression1632 sense perception1846 c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 14 Ane evill carnale fele..the quhilk..dampnis thair saulis perpetualy. 1567 E. Hake tr. Thomas à Kempis Imitation of Christ ii. vi. f. 44^v The wicked neuer either enioye true gladnesse, or haue the feele of peace of conscience. 1609 N. Morgan Perfection of Horse-manship liii. 188 At which voice with the feele of the rodde, and drawing of the bridle, he will goe backe to your desire. c1746 H. Walpole Corr. (1941) IX. 43 With all sorts of queer feels about me. 1788 F. Burney Diary (1842) IV. 194 I put aside the disagreeable feel of exciting that wonder. 1818 J. Keats Let. 9 Apr. in R. M. Milnes Life, Lett. & Lit. Remains Keats (1848) II. 88 Among multitudes of men I have no feel of stooping. 1833 H. Martineau Tale of Tyne vi. 117 To tell by the feel when the sun was going down. 1878 11th Ann. Rep. Conn. Board of Agric. 184 When a man first takes hold of a swivel plow..it gets away from him immediately. He has not got the feel of it. 1879 R. Browning Ivan Ivanovitch in Idyls I. 225 The feel of the fang furrowing my shoulder! 1912 T. C. Murray Maurice Harte 7 I have a kind o' feel on me sometimes that 'tis how something queer'll happen. 1948 Washington Post 1 Oct. 2/1 Young Henry joined the Ford Co., puttering around in various low-level jobs to get the feel of the business. 1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio viii. 140 It is worth while practising with this and getting the feel of the timing. 1974 J. McGahern Leavetaking i. 22 I turn to the feel of Boland's hand on my shoulder. 2000 P. Barkus Barron's Comprehensive Postal Exam (ed. 2) iv. 85 When you think you've got the feel of a 4-second time period, check the addresses below. 2005 K. Grenville Secret River iv. 217 The other smart..was soon soothed by the feel of his wife's body in his arms. b. A talent or aptitude; an (intuitive) understanding or awareness. Chiefly in to get (also have, etc.) a feel for. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > [noun] > ability or talent > a talent or special ability gifta1300 dowerc1375 dowryc1440 faculty1490 indument1527 dote1546 furniture1561 vein1568 talent1602 acquirement1607 enduement1609 endowmentc1610 genius1611 congruity1659 feeling1808 feel1891 the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > acquired skill exercise1604 learning1604 accomplishment1652 acquirement1795 feel1891 1891 F. W. Bain Antichrist v. 216 The skilful batter, in cricket, plays every ball as it comes to him in a slightly different way: and he cannot tell another man how to do it: because it is not in his idea, but in his feel. 1909 Alpine Jrnl. May 480 Behind all the storm lurked the suggestion, which everyone who has a ‘feel for weather’ knows, that it wasn't quite in earnest. 1921 N.Y. Times 3 Feb. 25/7 (advt.) A woman has proven her ability to cater to the middle and better class clientele, has a feel for style and knows the ready-to-wear market. 1959 P. Frank Alas, Babylon iv. 70 He had a feel for it, the capacity to stir a headful of unrelated facts until they congealed into a pattern arrowing the future. 1972 Times 15 May 14/4 In the non-Russian republics one can get a ‘feel’ for the way people react to russification. 1986 R. Sutcliff Flame-coloured Taffeta i. 8 He spoke of Peter having a feel for the land. 2002 Which? Feb. 31/2 Specialist property and lifestyle magazines..are a good way to get a feel for what's available in your budget range. 5. a. slang. An act (or †the action) of fondling someone intimately, esp. surreptitiously or without consent, typically for one's own sexual gratification. Cf. feel v. 13b.to cop a feel: see cop v.³ Additions. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > other types of sexual activity or intercourse > [noun] > stimulation of genitals > instance of feela1628 a1628 R. Daborne Poor-mans Comfort (1655) v. sig. G3^v Thou getst not a kisse, a look, nor a touch, nor a feel, nor a bit of my thums length. 1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure II. 111 From thence he descended to my breasts, the feel of which I disputed tooth and nail with him. c1890 My Secret Life (1966) V. vii. 146 A feel, a kiss, and a sniff on the lovely motte and then the old game. c1900 ‘C. Deveureux’ Venus in India (new ed.) I. 124 I am sure you remember the excitement you must have felt, the first time you had a good, free, and complete ‘feel’ of a girl. 1934 J. O'Hara Appointment in Samarra (1935) vi. 168 And that husband of hers, that Harvey. Trying to give me a feel under the table. 1969 ‘J. Fraser’ Cock-pit of Roses xviii. 143 She let me have a quick feel. 2003 ‘DBC Pierre’ Vernon God Little ix. 87 Mom whisks the napkin off a tray of pessimistic-looking bakes, offering it up like it was a feel of her tits twenty years ago. b. More generally: the action or an act of feeling or testing by touch; perception of something by touch or other bodily sensation. ΚΠ 1803 W. Forsyth Treat. Fruit-trees (ed. 2) xxviii. 375 You will know, when the beds are of a fine temperate heat..by the feel of your hand. 1817 L. Hunt in Monthly Repos. Oct. 623/2 Catching your heart up at the feel of June. 1847 G. Lippard Quaker City I. v. 194/2 Jist let me have a feel of your hand, Gabr'el. 1906 Smart Set Aug. 13/1 Feeling like Adam..with that fourth rib of yours? Let me have a feel of it. 1969 N. Sahgal Storm in Chandigarh xiii. 190 My flutter is about nine inches long... I guessed from the doctor's feel. About that long. 2012 Express (Nexis) 6 Dec. 68 Would you like to have a feel of my cantuccini? 6. a. The feeling or sensation produced by an object or material when touched (considered as if a property of the object or material). ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > quality of being tangible > [noun] > sensation produced by object touched touchingc1325 gripe1632 feel1739 handle1823 handling1824 hand1949 1739 S. Sharp Treat. Operations Surg. xxvii. 135 We must judge then by the Feel of the Surface of the Bone. 1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France II. 376 The general feel of the air is very mild. 1805 W. Saunders Treat. Mineral Waters (ed. 2) 40 That rough and harsh feel to the fingers and tongue, which characterises the insipid hard waters. 1864 M. Gatty Parables 4th Ser. 155 Twinette was on the cold stone pavement. But she didn't like the feel of it at all. 1882 ‘E. Lyall’ Donovan xx It reminded him of the feel of little Dot's tiny fingers. 1937 Amer. Home Apr. 135/3 (advt.) Percale sheets of utmost luxury with the feel of silk and the strength of linen. 1980 B. MacLaverty Lamb (1981) xii. 98 The feel of the hard dried peas as he dropped them into the trench. 2014 London Rev. Bks. 31 July 27/2 Specialist firms today supply figures in new materials that create the feel as well as the appearance of skin and hair. b. The way in which something responds to handling or use; the tactile response or impression produced by something (esp. a vehicle or other device) when handled, operated, or acted upon. ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > movement of vehicles > [noun] > way in which vehicle handles feel1889 handling1903 1889 Baily's Mag. June 385 Mr. Fellowes..used to advise young aspirants to keep a ball perpetually about them; to be always tossing it about and throwing it, so as to get thoroughly used to the feel of it. 1931 Economist 4 Apr. 720/2 The coxswain on duty at the moment of emergency had not had the opportunity to learn the ‘feel’ of the ship. 1958 Which? 1 ii. 25/2 The car's steering..was slightly ‘numb’, with undesirably little road feel. 1962 Times 4 Jan. 3/5 Angus played a neat, economical game, appearing to have the feel of the court. 1989 Aviation News 3 Feb. 878/1 It offers the control ‘feel’ of a large aircraft and thereby lessens transition time, its advocates say. 2003 O. Shine Lang. Tennis 6 Aluminium offers decent power and a surprising amount of feel. c. The impression or effect produced on a person by a place, situation, etc.; the quality of feeling similar to, or resembling, a specified thing. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [noun] anlikenessOE ylikenessOE likenessa1250 likeliheada1393 resemblancea1393 likeliness?a1425 similitudec1425 semblingc1440 alikenessc1450 assemblance1485 agreement1495 likelihood1495 agreeance1525 analogy1542 simility1543 semblablenessc1550 semblance1576 nearness1577 vicinity1594 simile1604 assimilation1605 consimilitude1610 parity1612 bly1615 similarity1615 connaturality1621 similiancy1622 connaturalnessa1628 reasemblance1638 consimilarity1658 similariness1669 similarness1670 consimility1680 kindredship1733 family likeness1759 family resemblance1785 cognateness1816 feel1892 the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > effect produced on emotions > [noun] relesec1330 impressionc1374 feeling1597 press1601 impressure1607 impressa1616 resenting1632 feel1892 vibration1899 vibe1967 1892 Pennsylvania School Jrnl. July 16/1 Some of the men [in the workshop are] not on speaking terms with..others, and the whole feel of the place [is] miserable and unhappy. 1968 Listener 29 Aug. 281/1 The Coliseum was built in 1904, and indeed its feel is so Edwardian that one half expects Harry Lauder or Vesta Tilley to leap from the wings at any moment. 1983 Classical Music Nov. 17/3 The jazz ‘feel’ was never absent from her playing. 2010 Time Out N.Y. 11 Nov. 16/3 The back building, full of rustic chairs and tables around the stacked-stone fireplace, has the feel of a mountain getaway. Compounds feel day n. [punningly after field day n. (compare field day n. 1b)] U.S. slang (now rare) a session of intimate fondling for the purpose of sexual gratification. ΚΠ 1932 J. T. Farrell Young Lonigan vi. 228 Wouldn't it have been nice to have had her there..and have a feel-day. 1934 J. T. Farrell Calico Shoes 48 All the boys around the beach here have a feel-day with her. 1973 Nat. Lampoon Encyc. Humor 138 At first, Timmy has a ‘feel day’. feel horn n. [originally after German Fühlhorn (1730 or earlier); compare Dutch voelhoorn (1768)] rare = feeler n. 3. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > animal body > general parts > [noun] > feeler feeler1665 tentaculum1752 tentacle1764 feel horn1770 tactor1817 antennule1826 tentacule1835 1770 J. R. Forster tr. P. Kalm Trav. N. Amer. I. 134 Their antennæ or feel-horns [Ger. Fülhörner] were as long as their bodies. 2011 E. De Visser Interlinked iii. 112 It was always exciting to see them stick out those black little feel horns and spread them out like little fans. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022). feelv. Brit. /fiːl/, U.S. /fil/ Inflections: Past tense and past participle felt /fɛlt/; Forms: 1. Old English felan, Old English foela (Northumbrian), early Middle English fæle, Middle English feil (northern), Middle English feill (chiefly northern), Middle English fel, Middle English fell, Middle English feyl (chiefly northern), Middle English feyle (northern), Middle English feyll (chiefly northern), Middle English ffele, Middle English ffell, Middle English fiele (southern), Middle English file (northern), Middle English uele (southern), Middle English veele, Middle English–1500s vele (chiefly southern), Middle English–1600s feele, Middle English–1600s fele, Middle English– feel, 1500s ffeale, 1500s–1600s feale, 1500s–1600s (1800s– regional and nonstandard) feal, 1500s–1700s feell; English regional 1800s– feal (Lincolnshire), 1800s– veel (south-western); Scottish pre-1700 feal, pre-1700 feale, pre-1700 feele, pre-1700 feell, pre-1700 feil, pre-1700 feile, pre-1700 feill, pre-1700 feille, pre-1700 fele, pre-1700 feyle, pre-1700 feyll, pre-1700 1700s– feel, 1800s fiel. 2. Past tense Old English foelde (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms), Old English fylde (in prefixed forms, rare), Old English (in prefixed forms)–Middle English felde, Middle English feelid, Middle English feelide, Middle English feild (northern), Middle English feld, Middle English feled, Middle English felede, Middle English felid, Middle English felide, Middle English felit, Middle English felyde, Middle English ffeld, Middle English ffelde, Middle English ffelt, Middle English ffelte, Middle English fielde (southern), Middle English filt, Middle English veiled (southern), Middle English velde (southern), Middle English velede (southern), Middle English velode (southern), Middle English–1500s felyd, Middle English–1600s felte, Middle English–1600s (1800s– regional and nonstandard) feeled, Middle English– felt, late Middle English flet (transmission error), 1500s fealte; English regional 1800s– feel'd, 1800s– feelt, 1800s– fel' (west midlands), 1800s– feld (north-west midlands), 1800s– fild (Yorkshire), 1800s– filt (Yorkshire), 1800s– veeled (Devon); Scottish pre-1700 feld, pre-1700 felde, pre-1700 1700s– felt, 1800s– feelt; also Irish English (northern) 2000s– feelt. 3. Past participle Old English gefeled, Middle English feelid, Middle English feld, Middle English felid, Middle English ifeled, Middle English ifelet, Middle English ifelid, Middle English ifelt, Middle English yfeled, Middle English yveld, Middle English–1500s felde, Middle English–1500s feled, Middle English–1600s feeled, Middle English–1600s felte, Middle English– felt; English regional 1800s veel'd (south-western), 1800s– feeled, 1800s– feelen (Yorkshire), 1800s– fel (west midlands), 1800s– feld (north-west midlands), 1800s– fild (Yorkshire); also Scottish pre-1700 feld, 1800s feelt; also Irish English (northern) 1700s feelt. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian fēla (West Frisian fiele ), Middle Dutch, Dutch voelen , Old Saxon -fōlian (only in the prefixed form gifōlian yfeele v.), Middle Low German vȫlen , Old High German fuolen (Middle High German vüelen , German fühlen ); further etymology uncertain, perhaps related to Old Icelandic fálma to fumble, to grope about (see famble v.), Gothic usfilma astonished, ancient Greek πελεμίζειν to shake (see polemic adj.), or to classical Latin pollex thumb, Russian palec finger (see pollex n.).In sense 4 and in branch II. probably partly after classical Latin sentīre (see sentient adj.) and partly after Middle French sentir (see scent v.). In Old English the prefixed form gefēlan yfeele v. is also attested; it is more frequent than the simplex, and is attested earlier in a number of senses. The prefixed past participle form gefēled (see quot. OE at sense 1a) could be taken as showing the past participle of either feel v. or yfeele v.; however, sense 1a is implied for the simplex by derivatives (compare unfeeling adj. and Old English fēlnes (see feelingness n.)). West Saxon prose writers (especially Ælfric) appear to show a marked preference for the synonymous verbs frede v. and yfrede v. (compare e.g. the variant readings in early Middle English recensions of Ælfric's homilies cited at sense 1). I. To have a sensation, impression, perception, or emotion. 1. a. transitive. To have a bodily sensation of (heat, cold, pain, motion, etc.), esp. as caused by a specified external stimulus; to perceive or be affected by (an external stimulus) through touch, sensation of the skin, or any means other than sight, hearing, taste, or smell. ΚΠ OE Homily (Corpus Cambr. 201) in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws & Instit. of Eng. (1840) II. 400 Þær næfre heaf ne geomorung..bið gehyred, ðær ne bið næfre wite gesewen ne gefeled. c1175 ( Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Bodl. 343) (Dict. Old Eng. transcript) xxiii. 549 Þa þa ic hine ber, ne felde [glossed fredde; OE Cambr. Gg.3.28 gefredde; L. sensisset] ic nane byrðene swærnysse. c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) l. 570 As þah ha nefde nohwer hurtes ifelet. c1410 tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 147 Þe emperour was ismyte..so þat adaies he felt noþing, ne tasted [L. nihil sentiret aut gustaret]. a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe i. 182 (MED) Ȝet not þe wynd be seyn, but it may wel be felt. a1530 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfeccyon (1531) iii. f. CCiiii^v Yf he had pretended to suffre payne, & had feled no smarte. c1600 A. Montgomerie Poems (2000) I. 58 I the force thairof [sc. a darte] did feild. 1639 N. N. tr. J. Du Bosc Compl. Woman ii. 82 We feele a wound, not knowing the hand which strikes us. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 63 We..felt not the cold. 1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 142 A Nettle is a Plant so well known..that it needs no description; and there are very few that have not felt as well as seen it. 1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea xx. 419 A stiff Gale, which prevents our feeling the Heat of the Sun. 1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 360 Thy frame, robust and hardy, feels indeed The piercing cold, but feels it unimpair'd. 1840 F. D. Bennett Narr. Whaling Voy. II. 265 The hand holding the inflated animal, feels a constant boring motion of the spines. 1872 Earl of Pembroke & G. H. Kingsley South Sea Bubbles ix. 235 I felt a sudden shock, a terrible lurch, and long trembling grind. 1941 Cosmic Stories Mar. 49/2 Lance didn't feel the cold as he stepped from the observatory airlock in his bulbous space-suit. 2005 J. M. Coetzee Slow Man iii. 21 He could put his foot down flat on the accelerator, wind down the window and feel the wind on his face. b. intransitive. To have or be capable of sensations of touch or other bodily sensations not associated with the senses of sight, hearing, taste, or smell (as heat, cold, pain, motion, etc.); (also more generally) to be capable of any kind of sensory perception. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > be capable of sensations of touch [verb (intransitive)] feelc1175 c1175 ( Ælfric's Homily on Nativity of Christ (Bodl. 343) in A. O. Belfour 12th Cent. Homilies in MS Bodl. 343 (1909) 92 Heo [sc. the soul] is sensus.., þonne heo fælæð [OE Julius gefret]. Heo is animus.., þonne heo wat. Heo is mens.., þonne heo understont. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 154 Hit behoueþ þe vif wyttes..wel lede..zuo þet ech serui of his office..; Ase þe eȝen to zyenne,..Þe honden and al þet body to vele. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 181 (MED) Þey cleueþ to þe erthe and mowe noþer [see] ne hire, ne taste, ne smelle, but onliche fele whan þey beeþ i-touched. ?a1534 H. Medwall Nature i. sig. aiii^v Yt shuld neyther fele here nor se But be as other incensate bodys be. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. x. lxxi Even oisters and the earth-wormes, if a man touch them, doe evidently feele. 1631 D. Widdowes tr. W. A. Scribonius Nat. Philos. (new ed.) 49 About this time [at thirty dayes] the Childe beginneth..to feele. 1643 J. Steer tr. Fabricius Exper. Chyrurg. iii. 8 The under skinne..hardly feeleth, though it bee pricked with a Lancet. 1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 88 So Man, at first a Drop, dilates with Heat,..First vegetive, then feels, and reasons last. a1771 T. Gray Ess. I in W. Mason Mem. Life & Writings (1775) 195 With sense to feel, with memory to retain. 1800 W. Wordsworth Hart-leap Well ii. xxi The meanest thing that feels. 1887 W. James in Mind 12 184 If the skin felt everywhere exactly alike. 1906 Proc. Royal Soc. B. 78 267 A short time afterwards the man stated he was again able to feel, but these sensations rapidly subsided. 2002 S. Lewis tr. J.-L. Marion Prolegomena to Charity vii. 161 My hand feels and feels that it feels. c. transitive. To have the sensation of physical contact with (something); to perceive (an object) by the sense of touch. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > [verb (transitive)] fredec888 haveeOE yfeeleOE feelc1175 perceivec1330 comprehendc1374 find?a1425 perceiver1495 to take up1607 sensatea1652 percept1652 to suck ina1661 sense1661 appreciate1787 absorb1840 sensize1861 the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > perceive by sense of touch [verb (transitive)] feelc1175 c1175 ( Ælfric's Homily on Nativity of Christ (Bodl. 343) in A. O. Belfour 12th Cent. Homilies in MS Bodl. 343 (1909) 94 Oft bið þeo sawle on ane þinge oððe on ane þohte swa bisiȝ, þæt..þeah hire hwa rine, uel reppe, heo hit ne fæleð [OE Julius gefret]. a1325 (c1280) Southern Passion (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 1518 (MED) Þat swerd ȝeo ffelde at hure heorte. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xx. l. 145 Al þat þe fyngres and þe fust felen and touchen. a1475 Friar & Boy (Brogyntyn) in J. O. Halliwell Early Eng. Misc. (1855) 50 (MED) The bowe yn hand sone he felt. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 14 Thos thyngys wych we se fele or her. ?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors ix. sig. C3 The lawyer can not vnderstond the matter, tyl he fele his mony. 1580 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Dial. Yron in Ioyfull Newes (new ed.) f. 155^v Pouder..that being taken betweene the fingers,..is [not] felt between them. 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 67 I am glad..that I can lay hold of something, I can feele, and that hath truth in it. 1720 W. R. Chetwood Voy. Capt. R. Falconer i. 64 It shak'd its Tail to and fro..all the while it felt the Water. 1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 86 I felt under my naked foot..some hard substance or other. 1808 W. Herbert Ella Rosenberg II. 123 I felt her ice-cold lips upon mine. 1869 Ld. Tennyson Pelleas & Ettarre 428 Back as a hand that pushes thro' the leaf To find a nest and feels a snake, he drew. 1940 W. Fawcett Young Horseman xii. 151 The horse is taught..to turn away from the side on which he feels the rein against his neck. 1998 D. Almond Skellig xxiv. 89 I felt the feathers, and beneath them the bones and sinews and muscles that supported them. d. transitive. With simple object and bare infinitive or complement. To perceive or become aware of (something acting in the specified way or being in the specified condition) by sense of touch or other physical sensation. Also with clause as object. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > perceive by sense of touch [verb (transitive)] > know by sense of touch feela1387 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 25 (MED) Eueriche man feleth þe water hoot or colde, riȝt as he wolde hymself. c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 362 The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. NN^v Whan we may fele our pulses bete quickely. 1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Mark v. 29 She felt in her body that she was healed of the plage. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 274 When the Genowayes felt the Arrowes pearcyng thorough their heades, armes & breastes. 1610 G. Fletcher Christs Victorie 34 Still he thought he felt their craples teare Him by the heels backe to his ougly denne. 1677 J. Wallis Let. 29 Mar. in H. Oldenburg Corr. (1986) XIII. 234 Wee feel ye Wind-scot seats on which wee sit, or lean, to Tremble constantly at certain Notes on ye Organ. 1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 13 He felt the blood trickle about his Legs. 1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (at cited word) In the manage, they say to feel a horse in the hand; that is, to observe that the will of the horse is in the rider's hand. 1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 239 One of the men..cried out that he felt him still warm. 1839 T. Beale Nat. Hist. Sperm Whale 65 A Sardinian captain bathing..felt one of his feet in the grasp of one of these animals. 1894 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ Real Charlotte III. xxxviii. 86 As she felt his fingers close hard round her hand..she pulled it away. 1938 D. Baker Young Man with Horn i. v. 54 Rick took the bottle..and tilted it up until he felt the alcohol cold against his lips. 2005 Z. Smith On Beauty 83 He felt his pocket vibrate. He took out his pager. e. intransitive. With complement. To be consciously perceived (esp. through the sense of touch) as having the specified quality; to produce the sensation or give the impression of being; to seem. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > have specific appearance [verb] > seem seeOE seema1225 seema1300 feel1581 would seem1754 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. ii. sig. M5 The hande..feeling to bee rough. 1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 139 The substance of it feels..exactly like a very fine piece..of Chamois leather. 1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 165 If it feels heavy..then we give him more Rope. 1768 J. Byron Narr. Patagonia 252 The weather was extremely cold, and felt particularly so to us. 1780 C. Cordiner Antiq. & Scenery North of Scotl. 103 The air felt warm. 1844 Lady G. C. Fullerton Ellen Middleton II. ix. 12 It felt to me as if the air had grown lighter. a1861 E. B. Browning Last Poems (1862) 92 Then one weeps, then one kneels! God, how the house feels! 1893 R. Barr From whose Bourne 225 I haven't forgotten how it felt to be hard up. 1966 C. H. Hayward Home Handyman iii. 62 If the hand is passed back and forth..the carpet will feel smooth in one direction. 2003 K. Slater & J. Borte Pipe Dreams (2004) xiii. 265 I'd forgotten how it felt to stand in the winner's circle. 2. transitive. To experience the effects of (something material or immaterial, esp. something unpleasant or damaging, as a blow, a hostile influence, etc.); to undergo or be subjected to. Formerly also intransitive.In quot. OE apparently with reference to hunted deer succumbing to the miraculous power of consecrated items borne by the hunter. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be subjected to or undergo an action > undergo or experience feelOE seeOE passa1325 provec1330 attastec1374 wielda1375 tastec1380 sufferc1390 to pass through ——c1400 expert?a1475 traverse1477 experiment1484 savour1509 to taste of1526 to go through ——1535 sustain1575 approve1578 try1578 experience1588 undergo1600 to run through ——1602 pree1806 OE (Northumbrian) Liturgical Texts (Durham Ritual) in A. H. Thompson & U. Lindelöf Rituale Ecclesiae Dunelmensis (1927) 117 Mitte in hanc creaturam tuam salis et aquæ benedictionem tuam ad capiendas capras et ceruos uimque odoris tui uel uirtutem sentiant : send on ðas giscæfte ðinum saltes & uætres bloetsung ðin' to onfoanne hrao & heartas nedmægn æc stences ðines uel mægn hia foele. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 136 Ȝef ani ancre is þe ne feleð nane fondunges. c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) 2133 Knottes menion..deope in his flesch hi wode..; lutel ese he miȝte vele. a1450 York Plays (1885) 58 (MED) This is a ferly fare to feele. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 304 He wes worth na seyle Yat mycht of nane anoyis feyle. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xiiij So the comon Prouerbe was verified, as you have done, so shall you fele. 1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Aiii They haue felde great calamities. 1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 97 So fell ane wedder feld I neuer. 1608 Bp. J. Hall Epist. I. i. v. 41 Wee fell vpon a Cappucine Nouice..His head had now felt the razor, his backe the rod. 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 93 [He] had his head cut off, and felt a terrible reward for his Apostasie. 1700 J. Tyrrell Gen. Hist. Eng. II. 894 The Kingdom..felt the Effects of their ill Ministery. 1767 Jrnl. Voy. H.M.S. Dolphin 6 The inhabitants feel little inconvenience from heat and cold. 1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna viii. vii. 180 The stings Of death will make the wise his vengeance feel. 1840 F. D. Bennett Narr. Whaling Voy. I. 5 We felt the first influence of the N.E. trade-wind, in lat. 21° N. 1909 Motorman & Conductor Nov. 7/1 Some of them had already felt the wrath of the antagonizing railway companies. 2009 Private Eye 1 May 15/1 We have not yet felt the chomp of the worldwide credit crunch. 3. a. To be aware of being injured or benefited by (a fact or occurrence); to be conscious of being affected by. (a) transitive. With simple object.In Old English with genitive.Frequently distinguished from figurative uses in sense 2 only by the less explicit metaphor of physical sensation. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be affected by some action haveeOE to feel of ——c1390 feel1487 eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. xxxv. 84 Sume lator felað þara læcedoma, sume raþor. OE Riddle 6 8 Hi þæs felað þeah, swylce þæs oþres, þonne ic [sc. the sun] eft hyra ofer deop gedreag drohtað betan [read bete]. a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 494 Ðus fel Adam ðurȝ a tre, Vre firste fader, ðat fele we. a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 756 I wil doo my parte, ye shul it fele. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 13 Thair fais feld thair cummyng weill. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 514 He is on lyff, that sall our nacioune feill. 1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. diiij^v I the warrant They fele no indigent rearage. For they have goodes innumerable. 1577 tr. ‘F. de L'Isle’ Legendarie sig. Fiij^v By this meanes they gaue so shrewd a spurne at the estate of this realme that it feleth it yet. 1655 R. Baxter Sermon of Iudgement 267 Those that now feel little need of a Saviour, they shall then have none to save them, when they feel their need. a1704 T. Brown Dialogue Oxf. Schollars in Wks. (1707) I. i. 9 I shall quickly feel my goings out. 1789 G. Dixon Voy. round World xv. 57 Our stock of yams was nearly expended, an inconvenience which we felt very heavily. 1833 Morning Chron. 19 Nov. The want of flour has been very much felt for some days past. 1883 Manch. Guardian 18 Oct. 4/7 The storm of Tuesday appears to have been felt very severely on the Western coasts. 1885 Cent. Mag. Nov. 30/1 Nor did she feel the want of a stair carpet and a parlor organ. 1921 Jrnl. Forestry 19 779 Our salmon canneries, mines, and railroads are large consumers of lumber and will keenly feel the loss of our timber. 2013 Tampa Bay (Florida) Times (Nexis) 8 Mar. 2 Friends keenly felt her absence as they swapped stories and enjoyed her favorite drinks. †(b) transitive. With object and object complement. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 53 (MED) And hym ȝe shall feill most prompte helper In this present perill. 1564 A. Bacon tr. J. Jewel Apol. Churche Eng. vi. sig. Q.vi^v For feare least they feele hym once a redresser and reuenger of his owne cause. b. transitive. Of an inanimate object: to be acted upon, influenced, or affected by; to be subjected to. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be subject to action or influence feel1559 to lie under1600 stand1607 to stand under ——a1616 the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be affected by some action > specifically of inanimate things obeyc1390 feel1559 perceive1626 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 11 Or descending to lowe, th' earth of heat shall fele the flame. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 628 Orites..will abide the fire and feele no harme therby. 1660 R. Sharrock Hist. Propagation & Improvem. Veg. 12 The lesse of the winter the Cabbage..feels, the more subject 'tis to caterpillars. 1694 tr. F. Martens Voy. Spitzbergen 30 in Narbrough's Acct. Several Late Voy. The Ships do not feel these smaller Waves but only the great ones. 1733 A. Pope Ess. Man i. 167 That never Air or Ocean felt the wind. a1822 P. B. Shelley tr. J. W. von Goethe Scenes from Faust in Posthumous Poems (1824) 399 The hoar pines already feel her breath. 1893 Homiletic Rev. Oct. 347/2 Some things never give forth their best until trial comes, as the chestnut burrs burst when they feel the frost. 1914 Young Woman's Jrnl. Feb. 137 The shadows lengthen as the day grows old, And mustard blossoms barely feel the breeze. 2008 New Scientist 5 Jan. 27/1 Orbiting so close to the sun, Mercury feels its gravitational pull most keenly. †4. transitive. To apprehend mentally; to become aware of; to know, understand. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > perceive [verb (transitive)] acknowOE keepc1000 feelOE findOE seeOE yknowc1275 apperceivec1300 descrivec1300 knowc1300 perceivec1330 taste1340 tellc1390 catcha1398 scenta1398 devisea1400 kena1400 concernc1425 descrya1450 henta1450 apprehend1577 scerne1590 to take in1637 discreevec1650 recognize1795 absorb1840 embrace1852 cognizea1856 cognosce1874 the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > emotional perception > [verb (transitive)] fredec888 feelOE apprehend1592 sense1872 OE Seven Sleepers (Julius) (1994) 40 Þæt heora nan felan [altered to gefelan] ne mihte hu hi gewurdon on slæpe, ne heora nan nyste hwær heora sawla reston. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 2483 (MED) And thogh nomore he fiele, Bot that sche hath a litel hiele, It is ynow that he therfore Hire love. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 2902 Mani man, for ouer-wele, þam-self can noþer faand ne feil. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 243 Ech of these men feelid weel in himsilf that he hadde nede for to haue help and reuling. 1463 R. Calle in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 289 As I feele hym disposed I schall sende your maystreship answer. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vi. l. 289 The queyne feld weill how that his purpos was. a1563 J. Bale King Johan (1969) ii. 2025 That is suche a lye as easely wyll be felte. 1572 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. 237 Alaik, I feill ȝow to thame bound and thrall. 5. a. transitive. With simple object. To experience or be conscious of (a sensation or emotion); to entertain (a conviction or desire). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > disposition or character > temporary state of mind, mood > be or become in a specific mood [verb] takec1175 feelc1225 cheerc1425 vein1589 frame1763 the mind > mental capacity > consciousness > self-consciousness > have conscious perception [verb (transitive)] feel1816 c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 38 (MED) Swuch fearlac ich fele. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 311 Hwen ȝe feleð [a1250 Nero iueleð] ani secnesse. c1300 St. Wulstan (Laud) 196 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 76 His bodi bi-gan to heuegy swiþe, grete feblesse he fielde. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 13 Þe same merk and tokene [of burning] þat he hadde i-felt [c1400 Tiber. yveld; ?a1475 anon. tr. suffrede; L. pertulit] in his soule he bare alwey after i-sene. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 2730 (MED) So schalt thou fiele no rancour. a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 88 Þanne þe sike man schal fele to greet heete & brennynge. c1450 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Fairf. 16) (1879) Prol. l. 106 In myn herte I feele yet the fire, That made me to ryse er yt wer day. a1475 Revelations St. Birgitta (Garrett) (1929) 42 (MED) He..that hath felde in himselfe þe stryfe of ij spirites, & falsehod and trewth. a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 2537 (MED) Off care no thyng they ffeld. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Chron. vi. 29 Yf eny man fele his plage and disease. 1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Ciij^v [She]..scorns the heat he feeles . View more context for this quotation 1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. J. L. G. de Balzac Lett. 309 I have not at all felt the emotion I shewed. 1717 A. Pope Eloisa to Abelard in Wks. 435 He best can paint 'em [sc. woes], who shall feel 'em most. 1798 J. Ferriar Illustr. Sterne ii. 25 Francis I. felt a curiosity to hear his book read. 1816 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto III lxxxiii. 46 Mankind have felt their strength. 1876 J. H. Newman Hist. Sketches I. i. i. 44 Timour..felt some misgivings about his past course. 1919 P. G. Wodehouse Damsel in Distress xii. 144 He felt a wave of stage-fright such as he had only once experienced before in his life. 2008 J. O'Neill Netherland (2009) 177 I noticed a familiar-seeming face a few spots away... I felt a strong impulse to approach him. b. transitive. With simple object and infinitive or complement. To have an impression or conviction that (a person or thing) has the specified quality, or is in the specified condition. Frequently reflexive.In reflexive use frequently with reference to physical sensation (as having an impression or awareness that one is warm, hungry, etc.). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > [verb (transitive)] > feel an emotion feelc1225 wielda1375 the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > emotional attitude > hold, entertain, or cherish (a feeling) [verb (transitive)] haveOE takec1175 feelc1225 makec1225 hoard1340 cherishc1385 harbour1393 nourisha1522 nurse1567 lodge1583 carry1586 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [verb (transitive)] haveeOE cuneOE supOE yfeeleOE afondOE canOE seeOE knowc1175 provea1200 feelc1225 passa1325 fraistc1330 wielda1375 wita1450 experiment1484 approve1578 experiencea1586 resent1595 fand- c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Royal) (1934) 7 Ne felestu þi flesch al toloken & tolimet þurh þat ich hate? c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 141 Ȝif þou fele þe syker and sounde, Þonk þou þi god. a1400 (c1300) Northern Homily: Monk returns from Death (Coll. Phys.) in Middle Eng. Dict. at Felen This enfermer Was sek, and he that was till him der Com..He asked him hou he him felid. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. GGiii That they fele their stomakes partly hungry, and nat vtterly saciate or glutted. 1583 C. Hollyband Campo di Fior 37 Feelest thou thy selfe well? a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1604) sig. E4^v I feele thy words To comfort my distressed soule. 1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill 42 Feeling himselfe die by degrees. 1662 H. Stubbe Indian Nectar vi. 129 I felt my self to be seised with a gentle sweat, or moisture. 1734 A. Pope Epist. to Visct. Cobham 13 You..Shall feel your ruling Passion strong in Death. 1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 49 We felt ourselves warm and comfortable. 1821 J. Bentham Elements Art of Packing 173 He would..feel himself running counter to that which [etc.]. 1881 C. Gibbon Heart's Probl. (1884) iii. 33 Maurice felt his eyes dazzled by a blaze of light. 1921 ‘E. M. Delafield’ Humbug 45 To her deep mortification, she felt her face burning with angry scarlet. 2011 V. W. Lloyd Probl. Grace 200 The boy did not feel his hopes crushed at the time. c. intransitive. With complement. To have the sensation of being; to consider oneself to be in a particular state or exhibiting particular qualities. Cf. to feel like at Phrases 6. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > emotional perception > [verb (intransitive)] > emotionally perceive oneself as feelc1390 c1390 (c1300) MS Vernon Homilies in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1877) 57 242 Þis ilke ffermere was seek, and he þat was him dere Com..he asked him hou he ferde and felede. 1572 Abp. M. Parker Let. 13 Dec. in Corr. (1853) (modernized text) 412 In better health than I in a naughty body feel. 1609 A. Craig Poet. Recreations sig. A4^v Thus feeling ill, and fearing worse each day, A miriad of mis-fortunes I embrace. a1697 A. Horneck Several Serm. 5th St. Matthew (1698) II. xvii. 20 You have felt so contemptible, that you despise all that you can promise your selves for the future. 1718 E. Strother Euodia (ed. 2) i. iii. 37 Watching, if excessive, will make us feel Weak and Heavy. 1744 D. Brainerd Diary 13 May in J. Edwards Acct. Life D. Brainerd (1765) 110 Felt very poorly after my long journey. 1772 M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1862) 2nd Ser. I. 449 I feel so old y^t its impossible to stir from home. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. i. 89 Now, that your soul feels strong, let us proceed. 1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest II. iii. 66 I feel indebted to you for the service you have rendered me. 1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles & St. James (new ed.) xii, in Writings I. 117 To make him feel a coward, a nobody, a nincompoop. 1878 W. Besant & J. Rice By Celia's Arbour III. iv. 66 I, for my own part, felt small. 1938 E. Goudge Towers in Mist (1998) viii. 188 He felt a fool in his pantoffles. 1977 J. Kosinski Blind Date 199 After the earlier excitement, he felt in control again. 2009 V. Coren For Richer for Poorer v. 63 The whole situation is so terrifying that I feel sick whenever I consider playing a hand. d. intransitive. With complement. To entertain a specified sentiment or conviction; to be in a specified frame of mind. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > state of feeling or mood > be in or assume state of feeling [verb (intransitive)] feela1400 vein1589 a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) cxxx. 3 in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 261 (MED) Ife i feled noght mekeli. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) §581 This cursed synne doon they whan they feelen in hir hertes ful wikkedly of god and of hise halwes. a1425 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Laud) (1884) cxxx. §3. 449 Si non humiliter senciebam..if i not mekly felyd: bot i heghid my soul. That is, if i had not meke felyng in the grace that god gaf til me. a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) i. l. 1628 (MED) This flood..Causid..scarsete off vetaile, That many a man felte ful vnsoote. 1744 S. Williams Christ King of Truth vii. 133 Unless he can chuse to feel miserable and wretched rather than to feel happy and blessed. 1794 Substance of Rep. Court of Directors Sierra Leone Company 91 I felt very sorry on the occasion, for I dare say I lost three hundred dollars by his death. 1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iv. ii. 65 How feel you to this work? 1839 T. Beale Nat. Hist. Sperm Whale 174 The captain felt certain that he was going to ‘sound’. 1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxxi. 266 It makes a man feel badly to see the faces around him bleaching into waxen paleness. 1920 C. Carswell Open Door! i. i. 6 I feel sure there must be a train before then. 1953 J. Wain Hurry on Down (1960) 55 Suddenly his knee-joints turned to water and he felt glad he was sitting down. 1986 Los Angeles Times 12 Sept. v. 9/1 He had spanked his daughter... It didn't work, he said. ‘She just cried more and I felt bad.’ 1993 T. Parker May Lord in His Mercy be Kind to Belfast (1994) xv. 269 When me and the wife got rehoused here just on twenty years ago, it was all clean and smart, everybody felt good about living here. 2003 Cult Times May 23/1 I feel confident I could get into any fight scene and rock it because of my time on Buffy. 6. transitive. To smell, to taste; (with clause) to perceive by means of smell or taste. Also intransitive. Scottish, Irish English (northern), and English regional (northern) in later use. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [verb (transitive)] > perceive taste of (something) feelc1225 smack1340 taste1340 find?a1425 the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > [verb (transitive)] > track or perceive using sense of smell i-stinkc1000 smellc1175 smakec1220 feelc1225 asmellc1320 savoura1382 scenta1425 winda1425 get1530 vent1575 nose1577 smell1608 resent1614 snuff1697 to get (also take, pick up) the scent1723 to carry scent1753 find1827 snuffle1871 flair1919 c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 26 (MED) Ich habbe..felde hu his fule stench strac & sturede aweiwart. a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 346 Wan he it felen, he aren faȝen. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 638 Haue ȝe..feled þe sauor. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 193 He schal wel fielen ate laste That it is sour. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 23456 In this lijf has man gret liking..Suete spiceri to fell and smell. a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xv. 57 Com nere, son, and kys me, That I may feyle the smell of the. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Dan. iii. E There was no smell of fyre felt vpon them. 1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle i. ii. sig. Aiii To feele how the ale dooth taste. 1604 King James VI & I Counterblaste to Tobacco sig. D^v By his owne election he would rather feele the sauour of a Sinke. 1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia i. 2 They felt a most dilicate sweete smell. 1706 W. Storr in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. 7 51 It was a very lothsome smell to feell all over the lordship. 1782 J. Sinclair Observ. Sc. Dial. 83 You complain much of that tannery, but I cannot say I feel it. 1846 J. Taylor Upper Canada 101 My conductor exclaiming, ‘I feel the odour of the spring’. 1861 E. Waugh Birtle Carter's Tale 7 There's that bit o' pickle i' th cubbort..Fotch it eawt, an' let him feel at it. 1884 Eastern Morning News (Hull) 19 Apr. 4/4 He felt a nasty smell. 1904 ‘H. Foulis’ Erchie xvii. 112 So that's the wye I was wi' the Clachnacudden chats. Dae ye no' feel the smell o' peat-reek aff me? 1951 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) 8 Oct. Miss Gartly felt the smell of something burning. 7. a. intransitive. To have one's sensibilities aroused; to experience emotion; (with with, towards, †of) to have compassion for or sympathy with a person, a person's situation, etc. Frequently with adverbial phrase indicating the depth or nature of the emotion experienced. See also to feel for —— 1 at Phrasal verbs. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > compassion > feel pity or compassion [verb (intransitive)] > sympathize feelc1390 sympathize1850 c1390 MS Vernon Homilies in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1877) 57 289 (MED) I dude foly And blamed him for he eet erly, ffor of his hunger nout feled I. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 3963 (MED) And felyst weyl yn þy herte Of a lytyl sorow or smerte, Þat þou ne art preysed furþer þan he. a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. iii. 7 It resounds As if it felt with Scotland. View more context for this quotation a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Honest Mans Fortune iv. ii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Xxxxx2/2 How heavy guilt is, when men come to feele. 1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks I. iii. 319 To live, and not to feel! 1761 C. Churchill Rosciad 19 Those who would make us feel, must feel themselves. 1816 Ld. Byron There's not a Joy World can Give in Poems 18 Oh could I feel as I have felt,—or be what I have been. 1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre I. iii. 34 Children can feel, but they cannot analyze their feelings. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. (ed. 5) II. vii. 213 A moderate party..had always felt kindly towards the Protestant Dissenters. 1893 Speaker 20 May 557/2 The Archbishop..and his colleagues feel very strongly on the subject of the attack upon the Welsh Church. 1908 Smart Set Apr. 71/2 He doesn't seem to feel. 1943 Y. Winters Anat. Nonsense 19 The insane..sometimes perceive and feel with great intensity. 2013 Nottingham Post (Nexis) 1 Aug. 56 I feel very vehemently about this. b. transitive. To be emotionally affected by (an event or situation); to sympathize with (another's misfortunes). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > [verb (transitive)] > be emotionally affected by yfeeleOE catcha1350 feelc1450 surprise1485 relisha1616 c1450 (c1400) Bk. Vices & Virtues (Huntington) (1942) 203 (MED) Þe more parfiȝt þat a man is, þe more he feleþ oþeres sorwes. 1569 J. Sanford tr. H. C. Agrippa Of Vanitie Artes & Sci. lxxvii. f. 122 They might be comfortes of new pleasure to them, whiche felte the losse of theire parentes, in the Troiane warre. 1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill 271 They doe feele with greater griefe an other mans profite, then their owne losse. a1627 T. Middleton No Wit (1657) ii. 66 Oh that my heart should feel her wrongs so much, And yet live ignorant of the injurer! 1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 1 I was too young to feel my Loss. a1774 O. Goldsmith Epit. Dr. Parnell in Poems (1790) 56 What heart but feels his sweetly-moral lay. 1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 409 Rudolf..felt deeply the tragical loss of his favourite son. 1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal II. ix. 171 It was her candour which he felt most keenly. 1915 M. Caird Stones of Sacrifice xi. 325 There's no denying that Clarissa has felt Claudia's conduct acutely. 2012 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 26 May The students around her crack up laughing but it's clear they feel the insult too. 8. transitive. slang (chiefly U.S., originally in African-American usage). To empathize or agree with (another); to understand, esp. intuitively. Frequently in do you feel me? and variants. Cf. dig v. 6c. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > identification with other > understand empathetically [verb (transitive)] empathize1918 grok1961 feel1997 1997 Vibe Dec. 68/2 Ya feel me?; Do you agree? 2003 N.Y. Mag. 31 Mar. 13/4 You don't have to tell me, girlfriend... I feel ya on that. 2004 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 8 Aug. vii. 14/1 If I was to talk about how rough it was on the West Side, I don't think people would be feeling me. 2010 B. Agbaje Off Endz vi. 34 I wanted something for myself, you feel me? II. To believe, judge, have an opinion. 9. transitive. With clause as object, or with simple object and to-infinitive. To have a conviction or impression that (something) is the case, esp. based on emotion, intuition, or other indefinite grounds; to think, believe, hold as an opinion. Cf. to feel as if at Phrases 2. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > bring to belief, convince [verb (transitive)] > be convinced, swallow feela1200 to take on trust1590 swallow1594 to take up1617 to take upon content1646 to take in1823 a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 93 Gif he feleð þat he is wurðe þer to, þenne understonde he þat husel. c1300 St. Mary Magdalen (Laud) l. 13 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 462 (MED) Ȝwane a man fielez in is heorte þat he hauez muche mis-do. ?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) II. lf. 249 And than feling [Fr. sentant] that his lyf had no more for to soiourne [etc.]. 1522 E. Betts Let. in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 228 And I felt wele þ^t ye shuld abeen never þ^e nere. 1548 Princess Elizabeth & J. Bale tr. Queen Margaret of Angoulême Godly Medytacyon Christen Sowle f. 15 This truthe maketh her to feale that there is in the, true paternyte. 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iv. ii. 91 Garlands..which I feele I am not worthy yet to weare. View more context for this quotation 1664 J. Dryden Rival Ladies iv. iii. 46 I feel already My stout Heart melts. 1691 J. Dunton Voy. round World II. vii. 67 Dear Reader, I feel I have Rambled away from the Booksellers, and faln among the Books agen. 1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber iv. 56 Plays come to be so..hackney'd out to the Common People..the best Actors will soon feel that the Town has enough of them. 1765 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VIII. xxvii. 121 He felt he was in love with widow Wadman. 1767 S. Pennington Lett. I. (new ed.) 122 The utter impossibility of expressing what they feel to be equally true and undelineable. 1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. ii, in Poems 75 Phœbe..felt she gave, Delight. 1835 I. Taylor Spiritual Despotism vi. 248 They felt that a religion..demanded a watchful control. 1861 A. Trollope Barchester Towers xxxii She felt that she might yet recover her lost ground. 1899 F. Norris McTeague iii. 39 He felt that he was clumsy and ungainly. 1912 J. Conrad 'Twixt Land & Sea (1978) v. 54 There were moments when I felt I must break out and start swearing at her. 1939 D. Whipple Priory xxxiv. 404 She felt that nothing that was said had any bearing on reality. 1964 J. M. Argyle Psychol. & Social Probl. xvi. 202 Another objection to social planning is that it is felt to increase the power of the state and restrict individual freedom. 2005 G. M. Flynn Currach Race & Other Stories viii. 70 It was felt by both men that the extra length would improve speed. 2013 New Yorker 2 Sept. 75/2 To be young is to feel that time will never run out. †10. transitive. To think, believe, have as an opinion. Also intransitive with complement: to have an opinion of a particular kind. Frequently with of indicating the topic. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > hold an opinion [verb (transitive)] ween971 holda1300 believec1325 judgec1325 feelc1380 supposea1387 conceivea1425 take1429 opinea1475 thinkc1480 supponea1500 esteem1507 opinion1555 intend?1577 meditate1585 opinionate1599 opiniate1624 arbitrate1637 apprehend1639 state1671 calculate1805 consider1830 fink1888 c1380 J. Aston in J. Lewis Hist. Life & Sufferings Wiclif (1820) 262 Y John Aston Prist unworthely required..to say what I felyde in the matyr of the Sacrament of the Autere. 1382 N. Hereford in J. Lewis Hist. Life & Sufferings Wiclif (1820) 257 We wer required to seyne what we felyde of diverse conclusions. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 412 Thouȝ y feele thus, that the clergie hath very lordschip. c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 87 Iuel þei felid of God, tenting to idols. 1544 J. Bale Brefe Chron. Syr I. Oldecastell f. 20^v That I shuld otherwyse fele and teache of the sacramentes. 1544 J. Bale Brefe Chron. Syr I. Oldecastell f. 24 How fele ye this artycle? III. To examine or explore by touch. 11. a. intransitive. To search for something with the hand, finger, a stick, etc.; to extend one's hands, etc., to ascertain one's position or find one's way; to grope. Frequently with about, around. See also to feel after ——, to feel for —— 2 at Phrasal verbs. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > make a search [verb (intransitive)] > search with the hand grope971 feela1382 the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (intransitive)] > grope about feela1382 to fathom aboutc1400 to feel (out) one's waya1450 grabble1579 pouter1812 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. lix. 10 Wee han gropid [L. palpavimus] as blinde men the wall, as withoute eȝen wee han felid [L. attrectavimus]. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 547/2 Fele this way alonge by the wall, tyll you come to the wyndowe. 1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 553/1 He grisped and longe felt about here & ther in the darke. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 131 Take the Tayle, and feele betwyxt euery ioynt. 1681 G. R. tr. C. Oudin Extravagant Poet 24 So, feeling in his Pocket, he pulls out a little tiny box. 1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 192 I searched all my pockets..opened all our parcels..and looked and felt in every fold of them. 1864 Ld. Tennyson Enoch Arden in Enoch Arden, etc. 42 Feeling all along the garden-wall, Lest he should..tumble. 1885 Bull. U.S. Fish Comm. 5 27 The boys reach in and feel about in the holes and under the rocks. 1920 C. Sidgwick & C. Garstin Black Knight xiv. 168 He felt under the body and brought out the hard object. 1955 P. M. Evans Hopscotch 5 Then you feel around and pick up your potsie without opening your eyes. 2008 K. Barnes Country called Home (2009) 119 She felt in her pocket, found the compass, and threw it as hard as she could. b. intransitive. To use the hand, finger, etc., to touch something, esp. (in later use) cautiously or tentatively. Chiefly with at, †to. See also to feel of —— 3 at Phrasal verbs. ΚΠ 1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 55 Within his shale are fat and full seedes, as soft to feele to as purple silk. 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V ii. iii. 24 I felt to them [sc. his feet]..And to his knees..and vpward, and all was..cold. 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §352 The part [of Wood] that shineth, is..somewhat soft, and moist to feel to. 1663 G. Harvey Archelogia Philosophica Nova II. ii. ii. 226 It [sc. the Stone of an Indian Hogge] is soft and fat to feel to, just as if you felt a piece of Castile Sope. 1772 J. Priestley Hist. Vision, Light & Colours I. iii. 115 A blindman's judging of the size and distance of an object, by feeling at it with two sticks of a known length. 1841 Ann. Reg. 1840 ii. Chron. 72/1 He was disturbed by some one feeling at his throat. 1913 N. Munro in Blackwood's Mag. Dec. 784/2 [He] felt at his stubbled chin, and took from his sack the razors. 2014 S. Kendrick Shamed in Sands xi. 164 She'd caught hold of his hand and moved it to her stomach... ‘Go on. Feel.’ †12. transitive. To grope after, try to find. Only in to feel and find and variants, in translations of Acts 17:27 and apparent allusions to it. Obsolete. [After post-classical Latin attrectare to touch, handle (see attrectation n.) in the Vulgate translation of Acts 17:27, itself after Hellenistic Greek ψηλαϕᾶν to feel, touch, stroke, to test, examine, to search after (see pselaphognath n.). Compare German fühlen und finden (1522 in Luther's translation of the Bible). Compare also quot. 1611 for to feel after —— at Phrasal verbs. The phrase to feel and find also occurs commonly in other religious contexts in which feel is more appropriately interpreted as belonging to branch I.] ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > search for or seek [verb (transitive)] seekc888 aseekc1000 i-secheOE huntc1175 to seek afterc1175 beseechc1200 fand?c1225 ofseche?c1225 to seek forc1250 atseekc1275 furiec1290 forseeka1300 outseekc1300 upseekc1315 to look after ——c1330 wait1340 laita1350 searchc1350 pursuea1382 ensearchc1384 to feel and findc1384 inseekc1384 looka1398 fraist?a1400 umseeka1400 require?c1400 walec1400 to look up1468 prowla1475 to see for ——c1485 to look for ——a1492 to have in the wind1540 sue1548 vent?1575 seek1616 explore1618 dacker1634 research1650 to see out for1683 quest1752 to see after ——1776 c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds xvii. 27 To seke God, if perauenture thei feelen him, ethir fynden [L. attrectent eum aut inveniant]. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Acts xvii. D That they shulde seke the Lorde, yf they mighte fele and fynde him. 1614 N. Byfield Signes 32 To feele and finde the gracious goodnes and readinesse of God to shew mercie. 1896 Biblical World 8 246 God..did not leave them without witness by which they could feel and find him. 13. a. transitive. To touch or handle (something) in order to perceive those physical characteristics that may be discerned in this way, such as shape, texture, temperature, etc.; to examine by touching, esp. with the hand or fingers. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] repeOE warpa1225 treatc1384 feela1400 palp1534 palpabrize1593 fista1616 handa1616 thrumble1632 to set (one's) hand to1638 to feel of ——1678 digitize1689 the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] > examine by gropec1000 handleOE tastec1290 feela1400 grob1654 explore1689 grubblea1690 pouter1808 palpate1850 fingle1907 a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 208 If þou felist þe place wiþ þi fyngir. a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Gen. xxvii. 22 Whanne he hadde feelid hym, Isaac seide [etc.]. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. cxcv^v By king Edward, which loued well both to loke and to fele fayre dammosels. 1589 A. Barlowe in R. Hakluyt Principal Navigations 730 We knew not what mettall it should be..but feeling it, it would bowe very easily. 1611 Bible (King James) Judges xvi. 26 Suffer mee, that I may feele the pillars. View more context for this quotation 1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 15 You neede feele no other pulse than my heart. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 409 The maids..were not shy of being seen, nor of having their hair felt. a1739 C. Jarvis tr. M. de Cervantes Don Quixote (1742) II. ii. vi. 117 I fell to feeling my head and breast, to be assured whether it was I my self, who was there, or some empty and counterfeit illusion. 1776 Trial Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 33/1 I felt his pulse. 1828 Lancet 27 Dec. 387/1 By feeling the head through the neck of the uterus [etc.]. 1885 H. R. Haggard King Solomon's Mines vii He felt his chin, on which the accumulated scrub of a ten day's beard was flourishing. 1938 Foreign Service Feb. 12/3 I walked on slowly, feeling the slimy walls. 2005 L. Wagner Cool Painted Stuff 14 Feel the surface from time to time. b. transitive. slang. To fondle intimately, esp. surreptitiously or without consent, for one's own sexual gratification. Also intransitive. Cf. to feel up at Phrasal verbs, feel n. 5a. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > other types of sexual activity or intercourse > engage in other types of sexual activity or intercourse [verb (transitive)] > stimulate genitals of (a person) gropec1275 feel1569 goose1879 to play with ——1879 fingerc1890 to bring off1916 to feel up1926 to jack off?1927 reef1962 fingle1996 1569 J. Sanford tr. H. C. Agrippa Of Vanitie Artes & Sci. f. 101^v It is good not to touche a woman, which they [sc. Priestes, Monkes, etc.] not seldome feele with vnchaste handes. 1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster North-ward Hoe iii. i. sig. E Green... My wife's in your chamber, rise out of your bed, and see and you can feele her. Squi. He will feele her I warrant you? c1650 in J. W. Hales & F. J. Furnivall Bp. Percy's Folio MS: Loose & Humorous Songs (1867) 30 I milder grew, & wold but feele: She said she was neuer felt, but kist. 1662 S. Pepys Diary 7 Sept. (1970) III. 191 I went up to her and played and talked with her and, God forgive me, did feel her; which I am much ashamed of. 1664 A. Wood Life 26 Jan. Kissed her and groped her and felt her brests. 1822 W. Hazlitt Let. 31 May (1978) 265 She wanted only a codpiece, and I ought to have pulled up her petticoats and felt her. c1890 My Secret Life I. vi. 157 Then I pulled and hurt her again, threatening to hurt her more still unless she let me feel her. 1904 Lustful Mem. Young & Passionated Girl 37 I stood still only spreading my legs and let him feel. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 49 She cornered me when we had our break, and I was forced into feeling her. 2004 A. Hollinghurst Line of Beauty (2005) xii. 387 Wani felt his cock and Nick felt his arse. c. transitive. To test or try by touching, as with the foot, a stick, etc.; to probe or move cautiously in order to test a surface, detect a response, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touch [verb (transitive)] > try by touching fan1785 feel1795 1795 Scots Mag. Jan. 423/1 When the Tonguses think that they have found one [sc. a burrow], they feel it with the foot or spade whether the turf gives way. 1833 Regulations Instr. Cavalry i. ii. 49 Rein back—Forward—Press the calves of both legs, yield the hand for an instant, then feel the reins again. 1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling vii. 244 Feeling the fish..consists in raising the point of the rod so as to tighten the line sufficiently to enable you to feel the ‘tug, tug, tug’ made by the fish in detaining the worm. 1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Feel (S.S.), to examine the roof of a thick seam of coal with a long stick or rod by poking and knocking upon it. 1886 R. C. Leslie Sea-painter's Log 161 Feeling first one line and then another for a bite. 1926 D. L. Sayers Clouds of Witness xii. 220 He felt the ground carefully, selected a tussocky bit which seemed reasonably firm, and drove his stick well into it. 2004 B. Swissler Winning Lacrosse for Girls vii. 110 Feel the ball in your crosse and give back slightly before you release it. 14. transitive. With (chiefly interrogative) clause as object. To try to ascertain by handling or touching. Formerly also occasionally with simple object and clause. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] > try to ascertain by assay1366 feela1400 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18695 Thomas þou fele and se Quer I me-self or noght it be. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3693 Lat me fele, If þu be he i loue sua wele. a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 270 Þou miȝt fele in what place þei goon in. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 556 Ther nys a fairer nekke Iwys To fele how smothe and softe it is. 1525 tr. H. von Brunschwig Noble Experyence Vertuous Handy Warke Surg. lxviii. sig. O.iv^v/1 Lay your hande theron & fele yf it be broken. 1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xxvii. 21 Come neere..that I may feele thee..whether thou bee my very sonne Esau, or not. View more context for this quotation 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche iii. lix. 30 Three times hee..felt How to unbuckle his out-shined Belt. 1743 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman May vi. 74 Feel if her Milk-vein is large. 1766 S. Sharp Lett. from Italy iv. 17 When you begin to beg they would hang them [sc. sheets] before the fire, they desire you will feel how wet they are. 1816 Ld. Byron Parisina xv, in Siege of Corinth 81 The headsman..Feels if the axe be sharp and true—Since he set its edge anew. 1890 St. Nicholas Sept. 972/2 He..passed his hand around my sword-belt to feel whether or not my revolver was there. 1920 E. M. Kelley Outside Inn ix. 138 ‘I'm going to take you up in my arms,’ said Nancy with sudden passion. ‘I want to feel how thin you are.’ 2010 D. Zeltserman Outsourced x. 87 She put her palm up against his forehead, trying to feel if he had a fever. 15. †a. transitive. To test or find out by careful investigation; to sound out (a person, or a person's attitude or intentions). Cf. to feel out 1 at Phrasal verbs. Obsolete except as in sense 15b. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > question, interrogate [verb (transitive)] > indirectly or cautiously feel1425 undermine1574 sound1575 undercrop1596 to draw out1778 1425 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Apr. 1425 §12. m. 4 Þe materes yoven in for my lordes partie erle mareschall, wele considered, and ripely felt, shold prove his title, right and possession. 1432–40 J. Willoughby in Paston Lett. (1904) II. 44 That ye lust of yowr grace to comyne with my Lord of Salisbury, and to fele him in the mater, and as ye fele him, hit please yowre lordesship I may have knowlege. 1465 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 137 Fele what he menyth. a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xx. 230 Bot yit some fawt must we feyll Wherfor that he shuld dy. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxiii^v Thei had felte the myndes and ententes, of the rude people. 1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. ii. 90 Adding..that to that purpose he had felt the cohort. 1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear ii. 86 He hath wrote this to feele my affection to your honour. View more context for this quotation 1664 Sir C. Lyttelton in E. M. Thompson Corr. Family of Hatton (1878) I. 41 To feele the French how they will concerne themselves between us and y^e Dutch. 1836 H. R. Howard Hist. Virgil A. Stewart 107 I felt him on the subject of speculation, but he cursed the speculators. b. transitive. Military. To carefully examine the nature of (a tract of ground); to test (an enemy) or establish (an enemy's strength or position), esp. by launching limited attacks to draw out its forces. Cf. to feel for —— 3 at Phrasal verbs, to feel out 3 at Phrasal verbs.figurative in quot. 1768. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (transitive)] > examine (ground) in preparation for attack feel1768 1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 99 Her preparing the way for her nephew, by first playing off and feeling the ground by a counterfeit. 1779 tr. Duke of Berwick Mem. I. 240 I perceived that the enemy were feeling their ground very cautiously. 1793 W. Bentinck Let. 30 Apr. in Ld. Auckland Jrnl. & Corr. (1862) III. 47 I mentioned my wish of feeling that ground to L^d. Loughborough. 1829 W. F. Napier Hist. War Peninsula II. vii. iv. 246 Loison felt the Portuguese at Pezo de Ragoa. 1848 J. Grant Adventures Aide-de-camp I. vii. 92 Order Lieutenant Colonel Kempt to throw forward the whole of his light infantry..to ‘feel’ the enemy. 1864 D. Stevenson Indiana's Roll of Honor I. ii. 50 While gathering information respecting the enemy's strength, he was willing our men should test their ability on his outposts, and occasionally feel his position. 1914 Observer 16 Aug. 4/6 These attempts to feel the Belgian strength and positions were carried out with dare-devil spirit. 1993 H. W. Pfanz Gettysburg: Culp's Hill & Cemetery Hill ix. 130 Johnson's division east of Gettysburg put out skirmishers early on 2 July to feel the enemy in its front. Phrases P1. to feel (out) one's way and variants: to find one's way by groping or treading carefully; (figurative) to proceed cautiously or tentatively. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > try experiments or make experiment [verb (intransitive)] > proceed tentatively to feel (out) one's waya1450 to grope one's way1862 the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (intransitive)] > grope about feela1382 to fathom aboutc1400 to feel (out) one's waya1450 grabble1579 pouter1812 the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > be cautious or take care [verb (intransitive)] > proceed with caution to make it wisec1405 to feel (out) one's waya1450 to beat the bush1526 to beat about the bush1572 callc1650 to call canny1814 go-easy1860 to plough around1888 pussyfoot1902 to play it by ear1922 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > move forward or advance [verb (intransitive)] > effect forward movement in specific way > tentatively or by feeling to grope one's way1574 to feel (out) one's way1638 to fumble one's way1801 a1450 ( Libel Eng. Policy (Laud) in T. Wright Polit. Poems & Songs (1861) II. 165 He [sc. kynge Edwarde] felde the weyes to reule well the see. 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos iii. sig. H.iij A post in hand he bare of mighty Pyne, and therwithall He felt his way, and led his sheepe. 1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants i. ii. §144. 108 While we have our eyes, we need not feele out our way. 1688 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. sig. Y/3 A blind Man that feels his Way with a stick. 1758 J. Lawson Lect. conc. Oratory xxiii. 436 We can proceed only by Conjecture; like one walking in dim Twilight, feeling out our Way, and chusing our Steps with much timorous Caution. 1818 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto IV lxxxi. 43 We but feel our way to err. 1862 G. MacDonald David Elginbrod ii. xxviii An aging moon was feeling her path somewhere through the heavens. 1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xiv. 217 Cæsar..feeling his way with his cavalry. 1910 Christian Reg. (Boston) 25 Aug. 911/1 He felt out his way alone to faith in a better God and a saner universe. 2000 D. Adebayo My Once upon Time (2001) ii. 12 I killed the lights, felt my way down the stairs and landings, [etc.]. P2. to feel as if, to feel as though: (with following clause) to have a subjective impression or experience likened to the specified situation or event. ΚΠ 1534 J. Fewterer tr. U. Pinder Myrrour Christes Passion ii. f. cxxvii^v When he was borne..she felte as if halfe her herte had bene borne and departed from her body. 1606 R. Chambers tr. P. Numan Miracles lately Wrought 210 He felt as if certain strings had been broken in his eyes. 1666 J. Bunyan Grace Abounding ⁋80 These suggestions..did so over-weigh my heart..that I felt as if there were nothing else but these from morning to night within me. 1742 D. Brainerd Diary 4 Nov. in Acct. Life D. Brainerd (1765) 49 The Lord will not allow me to feel as though I were fully supplied and satisfied. 1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 58 While we were asunder, we felt as if a limb was wanting. 1802 J. Baillie Second Marriage i. i, in Plays II. 366 When I look upon her poor children playing about, I feel as tho' they were my own flesh and blood. 1816 S. Gridley Diss. Importance & Associability Human Stomach 4 They experienced this distressing sensation, and felt as though the stomach was rolling over. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate vi I must go with you. I feel as if I could not bear to stay behind! 1917 A. Cahan Rise of David Levinsky (1993) ix. xi. 269 The jargon of that column made me feel as though I had never learned any English at all. 2011 New Yorker 18 Apr. 126/3 This is the kind of show that makes us feel as if we had a seat at the dining-room table. P3. to feel one's feet (also legs, wings): to be conscious of one's abilities; to be at ease or comfortable in oneself; (more generally) to be firmly established or settled in a particular environment or situation. Occasionally also: (of a child or young animal) to be able to stand or walk. Cf. to find one's feet at find v. Phrases 3. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > be able to [verb (intransitive)] > be conscious of or develop one's powers to feel one's feet (also legs, wings)1579 to find one's feet1977 the mind > emotion > calmness > compose or make calm [verb (transitive)] > be calm or composed to feel one's feet (also legs, wings)1579 the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > feel or be confident [verb (intransitive)] wit1297 to know one's own mind1658 to feel one's feet (also legs, wings)1889 1579 E. K. in E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Ep. Ded. So flew Virgile, as not yet well feeling his wings. 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia viii. 427 Give me leave to come leisurely to London, that in that time I may feel my Legs, and try how agreeable the natural Sweets of England by degrees may be. a1776 J. Griffith Jrnl. Life, Trav., & Labours in Work of Ministry (1779) 28 They..gave me full opportunity to make proof of my ministry, and to feel my feet therein. 1860 Punch 2 June 220/2 That little tiny tottering thing [sc. a baby] just learning to feel its legs. 1881 Daily Tel. 27 Dec. It was not until the last act that he ‘felt his legs’. 1889 Farmer's Mag. Dec. 217 Trees put in now cannot be expected to succeed as well as those that are already beginning to ‘feel their feet’. 1912 Ld. Redesdale Let. 10 May in E. Gosse Life A. C. Swinburne (1917) (App. I) 320 It was at Eton that he began to feel his wings. 1932 C. Clark Shakespeare & National Char. xxii. 274 Englishmen..were beginning to feel their feet in the new paths of exploration and discovery. 2007 M. J. Staples Price of Freedom i. 13 Lots of women are beginning to feel their feet these days, and I'm one of them. P4. Nautical. to feel her (also the) helm: (of a ship) to respond to movement of the helm. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > action or motion of vessel > [verb (transitive)] > be influenced or affected by to feel her helm1591 1591 W. Raleigh Rep. Fight Iles of Açores sig. B2 The shippe could neither make way nor feele the helme. 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 5 Many times the ships will feele no helme. 1749 E. Turrell Life B. Colman iii. 13 They called to them not to stir for their Lives, lest the Vessel upon such a Motion within should not feel her Helm. 1838 J. F. Cooper Homeward Bound I. xi. 163 The ship's head was to the south-southwest, her drift considerable, and her way of course barely sufficient to cause her to feel her helm. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Feel the helm, To have good steerage way, carrying taut weather-helm, which gives command of steerage. Also said of a ship when she has gained headway after standing still and begins to obey the helm. 1920 Federal Reporter 261 621 The collision came so soon that the witnesses for the schooner all testify that the schooner did not have time to feel her helm. 1970 Times 9 Jan. 4/2 The Moyle was just feeling her helm when there was a bump aft, and heavy vibration. P5. to make oneself (also one's presence) felt: to have a significant effect or influence, esp. indirectly. ΚΠ 1626 T. Hawkins tr. N. Caussin Holy Court I. ii. i. 119 The thoughts of a Diuinity..make themselves felt [Fr. se font sentir] with very piercing points. 1752 D. Hume Polit. Disc. iv. 77 The whole money may still be in the state, and make itself felt by the encrease of prices. 1795 Confiscation Considered 44 The British Army has scarcely ever appeared..in any country, without making its presence felt. 1857 J. C. Stretton Lady of Glynne I. viii. 65 It took me a long time to learn, that to be duly valued, you must make yourself felt in some way. 1931 Washington Post Sept. 27 7/5 Soviet Russia is making herself felt in Egyptian markets. 2014 Evening Times (Glasgow) (Nexis) 26 Nov. (Sport section) 42 He is Celtic's most influential player and I know he will make his presence felt tomorrow night. P6. to feel like. a. To have a subjective impression or conviction of being. ΚΠ 1771 R. Cumberland West Indian iv. viii. 76 She has cooled the lad's courage, and wonders he feels like a coward. 1786 County Mag. Sept. 134/2 I felt like a man who is neither old nor insensible. 1801 R. Southey Thalaba I. i. 3 She felt like one Half-wakened from a midnight dream of blood. 1860 Widow Bedott Papers 108 Them special efforts is great things—ever since I come out, I've felt like a new critter. 1919 H. L. Wilson Ma Pettengill viii. 253 It made him feel like a social cull or an outcast, or something. 2012 J. Thayil Narcopolis i. iii. 38 I felt like an interloper from the future. b. colloquial (originally U.S.). With gerund, verbal noun, or noun phrase: to wish to do or have something; to have an inclination for. Cf. like adj. 6. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > wish or be disposed or inclined [verb] willeOE listc1200 to be of (also in) (a) minda1325 to will well that1340 likea1375 to find in one's hearta1393 to have a minda1400 pleasec1450 set1470 to have a mind1530 care1560 fadge1592 please1611 choose1622 offer1639 to feel like1808 1808 N. Bisbee Hist. Falcos iii. ii. 85 He will not feel much like going to old Recrementa's to-night, to have a frolic there. 1865 U. S. Grant in Cent. Mag. (1889) Nov. 142/2 I now feel like ending the matter..before we go back. 1887 E. H. D'Avigdor Loose Rein 165 He did not feel like lunch. 1944 M. Laski Love on Supertax viii. 82 I'll go straight home. I don't feel exactly like a street-corner meeting. 1970 W. J. Burley To kill Cat ii. 45 They had a drink together, then Helen said that she felt like bed. 2011 Time Out N.Y. 21 Apr. 16/2 If you feel like sampling some of the sweets, try the signature Papa Payard. P7. to feel to: to be inclined to do something (chiefly U.S.); (also) to imagine or have the impression of doing something. ΚΠ 1804 J. Southcott True Explan. Bible: Pt. 1st iii. 241 When she thinks of the beginning of his conduct, love and anger wounds her breast; she feels to pity him, and feels to be sorry for him. 1836 Going to Service xii. 141 People would take liberties with her, and I should feel to have to take care of her. 1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) (at cited word) To feel to do a thing is an expression commonly used by some clergymen, for to feel inclined, to be disposed to do it. 1866 London Society Oct. 315/2 When he wants one [sc. a cigar], he takes it; when he does not feel to want one, he goes without it. 1891 A. Forbes in 19th Cent. Dec. 1018 In reading which one feels to hear the turmoil of the battle. 1943 G. G. Coulton Fourscore Years 323 He would write in the light of what he now feels to know. 1948 Z. N. Hurston Seraph on Suwanee xv. 139 She could creep out there at times unbeknowings to Jim and handle them when she felt to. 1978 J. Updike Coup (1979) ii. 48 Kutunda..felt to occupy the only undistorted quadrant of the car. 2005 J. M. Chernoff Exchange is not Robbery v. 181 And one other day, I was feeling to do something like bluffing. P8. to feel (quite) oneself, to feel (quite) like oneself, and variants: to seem to oneself to be in one's usual state of health or frame of mind. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > be in state of health [verb (intransitive)] > be in usual health to live and lookc1390 to be myselfa1675 to feel (quite) oneself1812 to look oneself1822 to feel (quite) like oneself1838 to feel (like) myself1886 1812 J. Galt Maddalen iii. viii, in Tragedies 53 I now begin to feel myself again. 1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist III. xliii. 141 I don't feel like myself when you lay that withered old claw on my shoulder, so take it away. 1865 Mrs. H. Wood Mildred Arkell I. ix I don't feel myself. 1890 Boston Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 27 Nov. 515/1 For some two weeks..he had not felt quite like himself, but he had had absolutely no cough. 1913 H. S. Harrison V. V.'s Eyes xxviii. 404 Cally had to assure him half a dozen times in as many blocks that she felt quite herself again. 1950 A. White Lost Traveller vi. i. 259 Will you let him come and talk to you when you're feeling a little more yourself? 2011 S. Busbee Rapture becomes Her iv. 61 His lordship is not feeling himself—we think it was something he ate. 2014 D. Macomber Love Lett. (2016) 113 Ellie didn't feel like herself in the morning until she had a cup of coffee. P9. colloquial. to feel up to: to consider oneself capable of; to have the strength or energy for. Cf. up adv.² 19a(a). ΚΠ 1829 New Monthly Mag. 26 233 On mornings when I did not feel up to conclusions with any thing very formidable. 1841 F. Trollope Charles Chesterfield v. 47 ‘Do you feel up to a little écarté, Amelia?’ ‘I am fit for nothing else,’ replied the lady. 1884 Graphic 30 Aug. 231/1 I did not feel up to much fatigue. 1923 Boys' Life Oct. 59/1 If I didn't feel up to taking the responsibilities it would be better to drop the thing altogether. 2000 M. Gayle Turning Thirty lxxix. 290 Two hours and several all-day breakfasts later, we were all feeling up to doing something with the day. P10. colloquial. to feel one's age: to become aware or be reminded that one is no longer young. ΚΠ 1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Disowned I. xx. 335 For the first time in my life I felt my age and my celibacy. 1868 Sunshine & Shade I. xiv. 225 We are getting very old, Mr. Rowe; these young people make us feel our age. 1937 Life Nov. 13/3 (advt.) When digestion slows down you feel your age. 1986 Washington Post 16 Nov. b6/1 I know what it is. It's all that young blood in Congress. You're feeling your age. 2014 Sc. Express (Nexis) 8 Oct. (Editorial section) 18 She is starting to feel her age when she looks at recent pictures of herself. P11. colloquial (originally U.S.). feel free to (do something): used as an invitation or for reassurance to tell someone that he or she has the speaker's permission to perform a particular action; ‘don't hesitate’ (to do the thing specified). Also elliptically as feel free: ‘go ahead’, ‘please do’. ΚΠ 1897 Midland Monthly Mag. Oct. 335/1 ‘Please feel free to tell us just what you think about this..problem.’ Mr. Fargo..whispered, ‘Go ahead, Maud—-say what you like.’ 1922 Northwestern Druggist May 34/1 What do you do? Feel free to write us about it. 1948 Univ. Mich. School Educ. Bull. Dec. 35 Feel free to change your plans for using the consultant after he has arrived. 1989 G. E. Klyve & C. G. Oakley Legend of Perseus iii. 86 ‘You don't mind do you?’ said the pirate... ‘Oh no. Not at all. By all means. Feel free.’ 2009 E. Thom Tin-kin 33 Come and ask us if you're needing anything. Feel free. P12. slang. to feel the draught: to be seriously troubled or inconvenienced; to feel insecure, esp. financially. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > be in adversity [verb (intransitive)] tholec897 pinea1225 steada1300 endure1340 to well in woea1350 labourc1450 concernc1592 to have a good (bad, etc.) time (of it, formerly on it)1647 to have the wind in one's face1649 to be on (also at) the receiving end1909 to feel the draught1925 to have (one's) ass in a sling1960 to be in lumber1965 the mind > possession > poverty > be poor [verb (intransitive)] to have needOE needa1300 to have mistera1400 to be low in the world1521 lack1523 pinch1549 to be beforehand (also behindhand) in (or with) the world1615 to feel the pinch1861 to feel the draught1925 1925 Westm. Gaz. 27 Apr. When the wind changed it might be the Conservative Party which would be feeling the draught. 1941 N. Marsh Surfeit of Lampreys vii. 103 ‘Did he go bust?’..‘I don't think so, Curtis. Must have felt the draught a bit.’ 1970 Financial Times 13 Apr. 13/3 If..the bigger firms in the private sector felt the draught and turned their attention to smaller orders, the lesser firms could suffer badly. 2013 N. Devon Jrnl. (Nexis) 8 Aug. 33 Smaller businesses..must be feeling the draught as customers—already hit by rising prices from here to eternity—simply stay away. P13. slang (originally U.S.). to feel no pain: to be insensibly drunk. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > be drunk > be insensibly drunk begonec1370 to feel no pain1929 1929 San Antonio (Texas) Express 20 Oct. 6 d/3 By dinner time the Judge was feeling no pain. 1947 C. Morley Ironing Board (1950) 116 At the table with three men who were feeling no pain. 1965 B. Sweet-Escott Baker St. Irregular iii. 94 A vast quantity of vodka was drunk, and twice I saw senior Russian officers being carried out of the room evidently feeling no pain. 2000 J. P. Bolnick & T. S. Living at Edge of World 131 By then I was feeling no pain. I was dozing off at Mansky's desk when Sergeant Johnson came in. P14. to feel in one's bones: see bone n.¹ Phrases 1b(c). to feel someone's collar: see collar n. 8a. to feel the earth move: see earth n.¹ Phrases 10. to feel the pinch: see pinch n. 7b. Phrasal verbs to feel after —— intransitive. To search or grope about for (literal and figurative). Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > search for or seek [verb (transitive)] > search about for to search out?a1400 to look about1536 to feel after ——?1557 study1561 to feel for ——1569 to look out for1578 to lay out1624 to look round1630 to lay about1755 prospect1854 roust1870 to look around1927 ?1557 Deceyte Women sig. f.ii^v My husbande is very soone awake, and..he neuer waketh, but he doth fele after me. 1611 Bible (King James) Acts xvii. 27 If haply they might feele after him, and finde him. View more context for this quotation 1768 J. Wesley Jrnl. 23 Apr. (1827) III. 308 Just awakening, and darkly feeling after God. 1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick lxi. 320 As if cautiously seeking to feel after some gold watch that the whale might have swallowed. 1883 H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spiritual World (ed. 2) viii. 300 The soul.., waving its tentacles piteously in the empty air, feeling after God if so be that it may find Him. 1918 M. P. Follett New State Introd. 3 Group organization will create the new world we are now blindly feeling after. to feel for —— 1. intransitive. To have sympathy with or compassion for (a person). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > compassion > feel pity for [verb (transitive)] > sympathize with yfeeleOE to feel for ——a1533 sympathize1607 to go out1628 a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1535) ii. Let. x. f. 128 I fele for the, as thou haste felte for me [Fr. ie sentz pour toy ce que tu as senty pour moy]. 1696 T. Southerne Oroonoko iii. ii. 39 I feel for my Imoinda and my self; Imoinda much the tenderest part of me. 1718 C. Cibber Non-juror v. 67 A Heart of Stone might feel for her. 1775 J. Livingston Let. 4 Sept. in J. Judd Corr. Van Cortlandt Family (1977) 18 You cannot but feel for a Brother & interest yourself in the feelings of your family. 1809 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) IV. 525 No man can see his army perish by want without feeling for them. 1890 S. O. Jewett Strangers & Wayfarers 16 I feel for Mis' Peak an' Mis' Ash, pore creatur's. 1957 H. Miller Big Sur & Oranges H. Bosch 351 Believe me, I feel for you. But you must try to do something for yourself. 2014 London Rev. Bks. 31 July 28/4 I felt for the guard who has to stay there in the room. 2. intransitive. To search or grope about for. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > search for or seek [verb (transitive)] > search about for to search out?a1400 to look about1536 to feel after ——?1557 study1561 to feel for ——1569 to look out for1578 to lay out1624 to look round1630 to lay about1755 prospect1854 roust1870 to look around1927 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 1337 Then tyed she the Handkerchefe about her eyes, and feeling for the block she sayd, where is it, where is it? 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 134 Let him..feele for the blaines, or blisters. 1652 Lillys Lament. 7 Feeling for his purse, he found nothing but the strings, which he had fastened to the Wast-band of his Breeches. 1691 Arraignm., Trials, & Condemnation Sir R. Grahme 93 The Captain run his Hands into his Coat-Pockets, to feel for Papers, as I suppose. 1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 22 Putting my Hand in my Pocket to feel for something else. 1794 T. Holcroft Adventures Hugh Trevor II. ii. 30 A third [man] came behind me, put his hand gently round my waist, and felt for the chain. 1839 T. Beale Nat. Hist. Sperm Whale 46 Moving the tail slowly from side to side..as if feeling for the boat. 1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table iv. 86 The old gentleman..opened it [sc. a snuff-box] and felt for the wonted pugil. 1868 J. H. Blunt Reformation Church of Eng. I. 294 The king began to feel about for further augmentations of his revenue. 1904 P. F. Warner How we recovered Ashes xiii. 253 He again got Clem Hill feeling for the ball. 2003 S. Mawer Fall (2004) Prol. 2 He was actually feeling for a piton that had been there for the last thirty-five years. 3. intransitive. Military. To try to ascertain the position or presence of (an enemy), esp. by launching limited attacks to draw out its forces. Cf. sense 15b. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military operations > [verb (transitive)] > reconnoitre (a place) > the enemy or his position discover1487 recognize1637 recognosce1637 reconnoitre1705 unmask1733 to feel for ——?1795 observe1853 spot1914 ?1795 Hist. J. G. Semple 33 He began to meditate the best positions of attack, then to feel for the enemy. 1829 W. F. Napier Hist. War Peninsula II. viii. ii. 292 Syveira..had orders to feel towards Mezamfrio for the enemy. 1847 Infantry Man. (1854) 96 An advanced guard..must proceed with..precaution if feeling for an enemy. 1871 E. W. Bray Military Lect. 6 The Cavalry Outposts, which had started early in the morning, to feel for the enemy. 1908 Jrnl. Royal Artillery 34 307/1 These detachments contained one or two batteries of artillery, and were intended to feel for the enemy's whereabouts. 2012 A. C. Ellis Mass. Andrew Sharpshooters xiv. 168 After marching a few miles, they threw out skirmishers and flankers to feel for the enemy. to feel into —— intransitive. Chiefly Psychology and Aesthetics. To enter imaginatively into; to bring oneself to identify or empathize with. [In later use, and perhaps already in quot. 1857, after German einfühlen, especially as used by F. T. Vischer (1851 or earlier), R. Vischer, and T. Lipps (compare feeling n. 12, einfühlung n., and empathy n. 2a).] ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > identification with other > identify with other [verb (intransitive)] to feel into ——1857 empathize1916 grok1961 the mind > mental capacity > psychology > theory of psychoanalysis > libido > transfer of feelings > sympathize [verb (intransitive)] to feel into ——1919 1857 Guardian May 136 We would say to the reader—read yourself into it—think yourself into it—feel yourself into it. 1898 Mind 7 105 We..‘feel ourselves into’ the colours and sounds which we enjoy. 1905 Jrnl. Philos., Psychol. & Sci. Methods 2 640 This also characterizes the Einfühlung,..when I ‘feel myself into the object’, as it were. 1919 M. K. Bradby Psycho-anal. xviii. 239 He feels himself into the mind of the man or woman..he is studying. 1933 H. Read Art Now i. 50 We do not necessarily humanise the rising column or the graceful vase which we contemplate: we feel into their shape..and react to..its rhythmic convolution; and so we invent the word empathy. 2007 Jrnl. Relig. & Health 46 291 An empathic connection is established through the therapist feeling herself into the confusion and distress of the client. to feel of —— †1. intransitive. To experience or undergo; to be affected by. Cf. sense 2. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be affected by some action haveeOE to feel of ——c1390 feel1487 c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 149 Let þi neiȝhebor..of þi frendschupe fele. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19372 Þat þai moght of na torfer fele. 1580 F. K. Of Crinitall Starre sig. Av^v I finde that the effect of his [sc. the Crinital Starre's] shadowes shal be seene in those places which be neere to the Ryuer of Rhene, and Danubius, so that Germany shal feele of it. †2. intransitive. Perhaps: to handle, administer. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > faith > worship > sacrament > [verb (transitive)] > administer minister1340 to feel of ——c1475 c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 30 It is necesari to hem..to fele of þe sacraments of God. 3. intransitive. To touch or handle. Now chiefly U.S. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] repeOE warpa1225 treatc1384 feela1400 palp1534 palpabrize1593 fista1616 handa1616 thrumble1632 to set (one's) hand to1638 to feel of ——1678 digitize1689 1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World iii. ix. 148 Being entred the Chamber, and sate down, he felt of his pulse. 1751 R. Paltock Life Peter Wilkins II. xviii. 221 There were many large Heaps of Ore lying, which I felt of. 1780 C. A. Burney in F. Burney's Early Diary (1889) II. 289 One Character came to feel of it [sc. his mask]. 1864 E. Sargent Peculiar II. 262 Josephine..felt of the bosom of Clara's dress till [etc.]. 1878 N. H. Bishop Voy. Paper Canoe 99 Crowds of people came to feel of the canoe. 1924 C. E. Mulford Rustlers' Valley xiii. 154 He was feeling of a seal ring in his pocket. 1939 P. Sturges Amazing Marriage in A. Horton Three More Screenplays (1998) 429 Aunt Emma (Feeling of the nightgown). Land sakes, child, you want to catch pneumonia? a1961 E. Hemingway Garden of Eden (1987) iii. xiv. 127 She was gone for about ten minutes and he felt of the girl's drink and decided to drink it before it got warm. 2009 M. W. Hollon Mushroom Kingdom 278 She felt of the side of her neck and felt a deep cut there. to feel out 1. transitive. To search out or explore by feeling or testing; to touch or reach for cautiously or tentatively. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > try, test [verb (transitive)] cuneOE afondOE found1340 searcha1382 experiment1481 experience1541 probe1542 try1545 invent1548 sound1589 to bring or put to the test1594 plumb1599 to feel out1600 essay1656 test1748 plumb-line1875 to try out1888 1600 R. Jones First Bk. Songes Lute sig. F4^v Since mine eies cannot endure so heauenly sparke, Sweet grant that I may still feele out my loue by darke. 1697 J. Scott Pract. Disc. I. 318 He walks like a benighted Traveller in a dangerous Road, and is fain to feel out his Steps. 1707 J. Stevens tr. Life Estevanillo Gonzales xiv, in Spanish Libertines 523 I was so Fortunate in feeling out the Sally-Port, that I found the Lock before he met with his Sword. 1799 E. Meeke Ellesmere III. x. 257 Clement had been feeling out the pannel while she was speaking. 1835 A. B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes 242 These [chills] I had to bear for the space of a minute or two before I could feel out my hat. 1892 H. R. Mill Realm of Nature xi. 188 The form of the floor of the ocean has thus been gradually felt out point by point. 1952 R. A. Brower tr. Homer Odyssey ix, in Classics in Transl. I. 65/1 Feeling out the right spot with my hand. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 9 His right hand instinctively swooped into his pocket, feeling out Rizlas, grass, lighter. 2. transitive. To test, look for, or find out by careful investigation or observation; to sound out (a person, or a person's feelings or intentions). ΚΠ 1631 W. Saltonstall Picturæ Loquentes sig. D7 If you come to borrow money of him [sc. an vsurer], if hee feele out your necessity, hee'le be sure to make you pay for't. 1758 London Mag. Oct. 512/2 From the vivacity of her penetration, she soon felt out the king's weak side. 1785 J. Adams Let. 31 Aug. in Diplomatic Corr. United States 1783–89 IV. 352 In order to feel out the sentiments of the people concerning a treaty of commerce with France. 1828 W. Johns Spirit Serampore Syst. vii. 64 The Serampore missionaries might have ‘felt out’ the inapplicability of their principles to practice. 1865 Bibliotheca Sacra Apr. 221 Those who..‘feel out’ the truth, throwing away what their feelings dislike as legendary and false. 1928 Publishers' Weekly 9 June 2376 I cannot stress enough..the necessity of feeling out the possibilities of a book before giving a large order. 1969 D. Acheson Present at Creation ix. 78 Relations with him became easier..as we felt one another out. 2004 enRoute Sept. 30 I'm in the German capital to feel out some of the planet's wildest and craziest nightlife. 3. transitive. Military. To test the strength of (enemy forces) or ascertain (the enemy's position) by launching limited attacks. Cf. sense 15b. ΚΠ 1891 C. L. Norton Handbk. Florida v. 336 The Federals nevertheless maintained the offensive, bringing up Hamilton's battery of light artillery, and feeling out the enemy's position. 1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words Feel out, of Artillery ranging until a desired target or objective is attained. 1941 Life 10 Feb. 20/1 The British plan was merely to feel out the Italians with new Chrystie cruiser tanks. 2013 S. Marble Brit. Artillery on Western Front iii. 45 By 9 a.m. the Germans were feeling out the British flank, preparing their frontal assault. † to feel together intransitive. To come into contact; to meet. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (intransitive)] to feel togethera1500 occur1533 alight1591 bemeet1656 encounter1822 the world > space > distance > nearness > be near [verb (intransitive)] > be in contact > be in close contact > come into close contact to feel togethera1500 to come to (the) grasp?1584 a1500 (?c1450) Merlin ii. 38 As soone as these dragons felen to-geder thei will fighten strongely. to feel up slang (originally U.S.). transitive. To fondle intimately, esp. surreptitiously or without consent, for one's own sexual gratification. Cf. to touch up 2 at touch v. Phrasal verbs. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > other types of sexual activity or intercourse > engage in other types of sexual activity or intercourse [verb (transitive)] > stimulate genitals of (a person) gropec1275 feel1569 goose1879 to play with ——1879 fingerc1890 to bring off1916 to feel up1926 to jack off?1927 reef1962 fingle1996 1926 A. C. Inman Diary 25 Feb. (1985) I. 294 Married the man she did because he was only one she knew wasn't always ‘playin' aroun' to feel up my legs, an' such like’. 1930 J. Dos Passos 42nd Parallel i. 75 She's awful hot. Jez I thought she was going to feel me up. 1957 J. Kerouac On the Road ii. xi. 175 We used to get next to pretty young daughters and feel them up in the kitchen. 1970 S. Ellin Man from Nowhere i. 9 We're supposed to be married. He might wonder about it if I let him feel you up in front of me without showing I didn't like it. 2003 A. Notaro Back after Break xxii. 206 You haven't been to one of Debbie's parties. Lots of pilots who think they're God's gift trying to feel you up. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.a1400v.eOE
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feeln.

Compounds

feelv.

Phrases

Phrasal verbs