Etymology tree
Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan
Old English fēlan
Middle English felen
English feel
From Middle English felen, from Old English fēlan, from Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan.
Cognate with Dutch voelen and German fühlen.
Meanings
(archaic) The sense of touch.
It begins as a firm elastic swelling, which communicates to the feel the idea that a fluid is contained under a firm fascia […] 1838, John Burns, The Principles of Surgery, volume 1, page 330:
A perception experienced mainly or solely through the sense of touch.
Bark has a rough feel.
The unshanked snaffle bit is good for bending and getting a horse used to the feel of a bit. 2010, Nathan Bowers, 4-H Guide to Training Horses, page 111:
And then something in the sound or the feel of the waters made him look down, and he perceived that the ebb had begun and the tide was flowing out to sea. 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
A vague mental impression.
You can arrange camel trips into the desert but to really get a feel for this allow yourself a couple of extra days and be prepared for what at times can be an uncomfortable journey: Xuan Zang tells us that as he left Khotan he was ‘attacked by tornados which bring with them clouds of flying gravel’. 2010, Paul Wilson, “Khotan (Hetian)”, in The Silk Roads: A Route & Planning Guide, 3rd edition (Travel), Trailblazer Publications, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 379:
You should get a feel for the area before moving in.
An act of fondling.
She gave me a quick feel to show that she loves me.
Etymology tree
Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan
Old English fēlan
Middle English felen
English feel
From Middle English felen, from Old English fēlan, from Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan.
Cognate with Dutch voelen and German fühlen.
Meanings
(copulative, transitive) To use or experience the sense of touch. ▸ To become aware of through the skin; to use the sense of touch on.
I did feel a complete fool after stumbling on the same rock again.
I felt cold and miserable all night.
You can feel a heartbeat if you put your fingers on your breast.
(transitive) To use or experience the sense of touch. ▸ To find one's way (literally or figuratively) by touching or using cautious movements.
I felt my way cautiously through the dangerous business maneuver.
I felt my way through the darkened room.
(intransitive) To use or experience the sense of touch. ▸ To receive information by touch or by any neurons other than those responsible for sight, smell, taste, or hearing.
(intransitive) To use or experience the sense of touch. ▸ To search by sense of touch.
He felt (about) for the light switch in the dark.
(transitive) To sense or think emotionally or judgmentally. ▸ To experience an emotion or other mental state about.
I can feel the sadness in his poems.
Teach me to feel another's VVoe; / To hide the Fault I ſee; / That Mercy I to others ſhovv, / That Mercy ſhow to me. 1738, [Alexander Pope], “Stanza X”, in The Universal Prayer. […], London [actually Edinburgh]: […] [Thomas Ruddiman] for R[obert] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 6:
Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile ; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins. Elsewhere in Europe, government contracts and subsidies ensure that press barons will only defy the mighty so far. 2013 August 10, Lexington, “Keeping the mighty honest”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:
(transitive) To sense or think emotionally or judgmentally. ▸ To think, believe, or have an impression concerning.
They promised me eternal happiness; And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel I am not worthy yet to wear. 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter XIX, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
I feel that we need to try harder.
We felt it (to be) our duty to call the police.
(copulative, intransitive) To sense or think emotionally or judgmentally. ▸ To experience an emotion or other mental state.
Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
He obviously feels strongly about it.
She felt even more upset when she heard the details.
I'm feeling really nervous about my finals.
(intransitive) To sense or think emotionally or judgmentally. ▸ To sympathize; to have the sensibilities moved or affected.
who feel for all mankind 1738, Alexander Pope, Epilogue to the Satires:
I feel for you and your plight.
[She] feels with the dignity of a Roman matron. 1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC:
(transitive) To be or become aware of.
(transitive) To experience the consequences of.
Feel my wrath!
(copulative) To seem (through touch or otherwise).
It looks like wood, but it feels more like plastic.
This is supposed to be a party, but it feels more like a funeral!
It felt really strange to be back in my old kindergarten.
(US, slang, transitive) To understand.
I don't want you back here, ya feel me?
Shoot, errbody have the zipper jacket / And half of these thugs have the glove to match, ya feel me? 2002, “Work It”, in Under Construction, performed by Missy Elliott:
az hiss etmək (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · lad rigritar (Monastir) (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · sv känna (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · my ခံစား (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · lv uzskatīt (transitive: to think or believe) · bg опипвам (intransitive: to search by touching) · es compadecer (intransitive: to sympathise) · hu együttérez (intransitive: to sympathise) · tr duymak (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · id berasa (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · am ስሜት (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · lv izjust (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ar شَعَرَ بِ (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · hy շոշափել (transitive: to sense by touch) · lv just līdzi (intransitive: to sympathise) · ru чу́вствовать (transitive: to sense by touch) · fur sintî (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ht santi (transitive: to sense by touch) · sv känna (transitive: to sense by touch) · hu tapintású (copulative: to seem) · ang wēnan (transitive: to think or believe) · ang efnþrōwian (intransitive: to sympathise) · acw حَسّ (transitive: to think or believe) · ga mothaigh (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ga airigh (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · dsb cuś (transitive: to sense by touch) · gd fairich (transitive: to sense by touch) · it pensare (transitive: to think or believe) · eo senti (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ltg just (transitive: to sense by touch) · fr sembler (copulative: to seem) · cmn 感覺 /感觉 (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ro simți (transitive: to sense by touch) · ms berasa (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · sv anse (transitive: to think or believe) · gl tocar (transitive: to sense by touch) · lv šķist (copulative: to seem) · sh осетити (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · sl čutiti (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · uz qilmoq (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ja 感じる (transitive: to sense by touch) · pt sentir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · de das Gefühl haben (transitive: to think or believe) · tr hissetmek (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · es parecer (copulative: to seem) · ta தோன்று (transitive: to think or believe) · ky сезүү (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · tl maramdaman (transitive: to sense by touch) · sh osjetiti (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ga airigh (transitive: to sense by touch) · de spüren (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · gl apalpar (intransitive: to search by touching) · rm santeir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · arz حَسّ (transitive: to sense by touch) · cmn 覺得 /觉得 (transitive: to think or believe) · bg усе́щам (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · is finna (transitive: to sense by touch) · rm santir (transitive: to sense by touch) · ur محسوس کرنا (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · hy զգալ (transitive: to sense by touch) · gl coidar (transitive: to think or believe) · ga airigh (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · be адчу́ць (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ang witan (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ko 느끼다 (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ar حَسَّ (transitive: to sense by touch) · pt sentir (transitive: to sense by touch) · no føle (transitive: to sense by touch) · ca sentir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ka გრძნობა (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · az duymaq (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · pl mieć uczucie (transitive: to think or believe) · sh osećati (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ja 感じる (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ltg pajust (transitive: to sense by touch) · ru щу́пать (intransitive: to search by touching) · gd fairich (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · tk duýmak (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · hy համարել (transitive: to think or believe) · ca sentir-se (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · iba megai (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · pl czuć (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · tr sezmek (transitive: to sense by touch) · ga mothaigh (transitive: to sense by touch) · mk чувствува (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · rm sentir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · lt pajusti (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · fur tastâ (transitive: to sense by touch) · ast sentir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · pl poczuć (transitive: to sense by touch) · no føle (copulative: to seem) · th คิด (transitive: to think or believe) · fr sentir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · pt sentir-se (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · oc sentir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · el αισθάνομαι (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · mn мэдэрхүй (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · bn বোধ করা (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · et tundma (transitive: to sense by touch) · si දැනෙනවා (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ar شَعَرَ (transitive: to think or believe) · hsb čuć (transitive: to sense by touch) · ru ду́мать (transitive: to think or believe) · fa حس کردن (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · km មានអារម្មណ៍ (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · be адчува́ць (transitive: to sense by touch) · no føle (transitive: to think or believe) · da føle (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · de ertasten (transitive: to sense by touch) · af voel (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · rup simtu (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · kea palpa (transitive: to sense by touch) · gd làimhsich (intransitive: to search by touching) · ru полага́ть (transitive: to think or believe) · kk сезу (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · cs cítit (transitive: to think or believe) · zdj udjihisi (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · kmr seh kirin (transitive: to sense by touch) · fi tuntea (transitive: to sense by touch) · dsb cuś se (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · kea sintí (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · is snerta (transitive: to sense by touch) · lv just (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · de sich fühlen (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · it sentire (transitive: to sense by touch) · gl apalpar (transitive: to sense by touch) · fi tunnustella (intransitive: to search by touching) · es sentirse (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · lo ຮູ້ສຶກ (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · hu tapintása van (copulative: to seem) · dsb cuś (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · lv domāt (transitive: to think or believe) · ca creure (transitive: to think or believe) · my စမ်းသပ် (intransitive: to search by touching) · rm santir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · frr feel (transitive: to sense by touch) · uk відчува́ти (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · mn үзэх (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · hu érződik (copulative: to seem) · sv känna (transitive: to think or believe) · cmn 触摸 (transitive: to sense by touch) · sq ni (transitive: to sense by touch) · ang weġan (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · kea palpa (intransitive: to search by touching) · be адчу́ць (transitive: to sense by touch) · ru почу́вствовать (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ko ᆯ 것 같다 (transitive: to think or believe) · hu érez (transitive: to think or believe) · ar شَعَرَ (transitive: to sense by touch) · nl voelen (transitive: to sense by touch) · hu érez (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · cs cítit (transitive: to sense by touch) · sh осећати (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ga braith (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · cmn 感覺 /感觉 (transitive: to think or believe) · es sentirse (copulative: to seem) · pl czuć (transitive: to sense by touch) · fi tuntea (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · es sentir (transitive: to sense by touch) · el νιώθω (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · no føle (intransitive: to search by touching) · vi cảm thấy (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · cmn 触 (transitive: to sense by touch) · fr se sentir (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · vi mò (intransitive: to search by touching) · sq ni (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · sl čutiti (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · uk відчу́ти (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · th รู้สึก (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · ru сочу́вствовать (intransitive: to sympathise) · nl voelen (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · es sentir (transitive: to think or believe) · tt сизәргә (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · th สัมผัส (transitive: to sense by touch) · tt тоярга (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · th เชื่อ (transitive: to think or believe) · sh осјетити (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ba тойоу (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · da føle (transitive: to sense by touch) · de spüren (transitive: to sense by touch) · rm sentir (transitive: to sense by touch) · sh осјећати (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · sk cítiť (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · fr sentir (transitive: to think or believe) · el ψυλλιάζομαι (transitive: to think or believe) · lv taustīt (intransitive: to search by touching) · la sentiō (transitive: to think or believe) · pt tocar (transitive: to sense by touch) · ang ġefrēdan (transitive: to sense by touch) · chr ᎠᏒᏂᎭ (transitive: to sense by touch) · pt palpar (intransitive: to search by touching) · sc sentire (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · pl uważać (transitive: to think or believe) · sv må (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · ru нащу́пывать (intransitive: to search by touching) · lad sentir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · no kjenne (transitive: to sense by touch) · uk почува́ти (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · sq ndiej (transitive: to sense by touch) · sga ceta·bí (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · acw حَسّ (transitive: to sense by touch) · bg считам (transitive: to think or believe) · gl sentir (transitive: to sense by touch) · be пачу́ць (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · sv tycka (transitive: to think or believe) · th เห็นใจ (intransitive: to sympathise) · sq ndiej (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ba һиҙеү (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · rup sãmtu (transitive: to sense by touch) · be чуць (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ru чу́вствовать (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · qu kullay (transitive: to sense by touch) · hu az az érzése van (transitive: to think or believe) · tt хис итәргә (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · mk чувствува (transitive: to sense by touch) · lad sintir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · pt tatear (intransitive: to search by touching) · hu tapogat (intransitive: to search by touching) · ast sentir (transitive: to sense by touch) · sc sentiri (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · lv likties (copulative: to seem) · ru чу́ять (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · hi महसूस करना (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · rup simtu (transitive: to sense by touch) · ru чу́вствовать (transitive: to think or believe) · zlw-ocs cútiti (transitive: to sense by touch) · lv taustīties (intransitive: to search by touching) · be адчува́ць (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ar شَعَرَ (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ru тро́гать (transitive: to sense by touch) · nmn ta̰ã (transitive: to sense by touch) · lv just (transitive: to sense by touch) · fr toucher (transitive: to sense by touch) · ang grāpian (intransitive: to search by touching) · la temptō (transitive: to sense by touch) · ru ощу́пывать (intransitive: to search by touching) · pl czuć się (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · no kjenne etter (intransitive: to search by touching) · ja 思う (transitive: to think or believe) · nrf senti (transitive: to think or believe) · fa احساس کردن (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · it sentire (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · gl pensar (transitive: to think or believe) · ru почу́ять (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · io sentar (transitive: to sense by touch) · ang þynċan (copulative: to seem) · grc ψηλαφάω (intransitive: to search by touching) · nrf senti (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · eo palpi (transitive: to sense by touch) · ang hrīnan (intransitive: to search by touching) · lt jausti (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · unm amàlsi (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · et tundma (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · kea palpá (intransitive: to search by touching) · hu kitapogat (intransitive: to search by touching) · lv taustīt (transitive: to sense by touch) · rm santeir (transitive: to sense by touch) · cy teimlo (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · cu чоути (transitive: to sense by touch) · lv sataustīt (transitive: to sense by touch) · sga airigidir (transitive: to sense by touch) · pl poczuć (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ru чу́вствовать (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · pt parecer (copulative: to seem) · uk чу́ти (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · el αισθάνομαι (transitive: to sense by touch) · hu tapint (transitive: to sense by touch) · lv aptaustīt (transitive: to sense by touch) · ja 触れる (transitive: to sense by touch) · ru ощуща́ть (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · de denken (transitive: to think or believe) · lv justies (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · hy զգալ (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · lv just (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ba һиҙеү (transitive: to sense by touch) · ar تحسس (intransitive: to search by touching) · oc sentir (transitive: to sense by touch) · bg съчувствам (intransitive: to sympathise) · pt apalpar (transitive: to sense by touch) · cmn 感到 (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · de jmdn./etw. gut verstehen können (intransitive: to sympathise) · hu érez (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · pl odczuć (transitive: to sense by touch) · pl czuć (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · es sentir (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · tr hissetmek (transitive: to sense by touch) · ru ощути́ть (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ro simți (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ru ощуща́ть (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · da mærke (transitive: to sense by touch) · uk почу́ти (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · cs cítit (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ajp حَسّ (transitive: to sense by touch) · bg чу́вствам (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · gd fairich (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · cmn 摸 (transitive: to sense by touch) · hu érez (transitive: to sense by touch) · tl maramdaman (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · id merasa (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · de nach etw. tasten (intransitive: to search by touching) · th รู้สึก (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · de sich anfühlen (copulative: to seem) · gld уйнгэ- (transitive: to sense by touch) · liv mȯjjõ (transitive: to sense by touch) · sk cítiť (transitive: to sense by touch) · no føle (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · sh osetiti (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ca sentir (transitive: to sense by touch) · fi tuntea myötätuntoa (intransitive: to sympathise) · kea xinti (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · th คลำ (intransitive: to search by touching) · liv maņņõ (transitive: to sense by touch) · bg чувствам (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · fi tuntua (copulative: to seem) · fi tuntea (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ky сезүү (transitive: to sense by touch) · es sentirlo (intransitive: to sympathise) · acw حس (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · is finna (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · la sentiō (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · bg опи́пвам (transitive: to sense by touch) · ang weġan (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · kea xinti (transitive: to sense by touch) · kea palpá (transitive: to sense by touch) · dlm senter (transitive: to sense by touch) · sh osjećati (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · kea sintí (transitive: to sense by touch) · fr penser (transitive: to think or believe) · fr palper (transitive: to sense by touch) · tg ҳис кардан (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · ang witan (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · fur sintî (transitive: to sense by touch) · pt pensar/crer/achar que (transitive: to think or believe) · he הִרְגִּישׁ (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about) · el ψηλαφώ (intransitive: to search by touching) · ga airigh (copulative: to seem) · pt sentir (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · el νιώθω (intransitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state) · dlm senter (transitive: to experience an emotion or other mental state about)