sensibility

noun12

1. •
   The ability to feel, perceive, or sense; responsiveness to sensory stimuli; sensitivity; also, the degree to which someone or something (especially a sensory organ or tissue) is able to respond to sensory stimuli.
2. •
   [in the plural] Emotions or feelings arising from or relating to aesthetic or moral standards, especially those which are sensitive and thus likely to be hurt or offended.

   • I apologize if I offended your sensibilities, but that’s the truth of the matter.
3. •
   Keen sensitivity to matters of creative expression or feeling; artistic or emotional awareness.

   • Modesty is not only an ornament, but also a guard to virtue. […] It is such an exquisite sensibility, as warns her to shun the first appearance of every thing which is hurtful. — 1711
4. •
   The quality of being easily affected by external forces or stimuli; also, of a measuring instrument: the quality of being able to detect small changes in the environment.

   • About an Attempt to examine the Motions and Sensibility of the Cartesian Materia subtilis, or the Aether, with a pair of Bellovvs (made of a Bladder) in the exhausted Receiver [chapter name]. — 1669
5. •
   The ability to perceive or sense as opposed to the ability to understand; also, in the philosophy of the German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724–1804): emotion or feeling as opposed to the will.
6. •
   (historical) Synonym of Empfindsamkeit.
7. •
   (no longer used) Of a plant or one of its parts: the ability to move in response to a stimulus.
8. •
   (no longer used) Awareness; also, understanding.
9. •
   (no longer used) An emotional sense or understanding of something.
10. •
    (no longer used) Affected or excessive artistic or emotional awareness; the fact or quality of being overemotional; overemotionality.

    • ―Dear sensibility! source inexhausted of all that's precious in our joys, or costly in our sorrovvs! — 1768
11. •
    (no longer used) The capacity of something to be perceived by the senses; perceptibility.
12. •
    (no longer used) A sign or token of appreciation or gratitude.