Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses.
The sensitive faculty most part overrules reason, the soul is carried hoodwinked, and the understanding captive like a beast.1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition III, section 1, member 2, subsection i:
2
Responsive to stimuli.
The engine seemed a little sensitive to wet rails, and in consequence the uphill work was not so good north of Dundee as it had been earlier. But I have noted this same "touchiness" on the part of the "A4s", and other modern British 4-6-2s, so that in this respect No. 2006 proved no exception.1947 January and February, O. S. Nock, “"The Aberdonian" in Wartime”, in Railway Magazine, page 9:
3
Of a person Easily offended, upset, or hurt.
Max is very sensitive; he cried today because of the bad news.
4
Usually, Of an issue Capable of offending, upsetting, or hurting.
Religion is often a sensitive topic of discussion and should be avoided when dealing with foreign business associates.
5
Meant to be concealed or kept secret.
These are highly sensitive documents.
Xeltan: I cannot speak more about this problem; it is too sensitive. Suffice it to say, she has compromised my authority as a diplomat.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel:
6
Being aware of the feelings of others and taking care not to offend them.
Thank you for being sensitive.
7
Important, intricate, and requiring great delicacy.
The president's untimely statement disrupted some very sensitive negotiations.
8
Of an instrument Accurate; able to register small changes in some property.
9
Archaic Having paranormal abilities that can be controlled through mesmerism.
Etymology From Middle French sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus. By surface analysis, sense + -ite + -ive.
1
A person with a paranormal sensitivity to something that most cannot perceive.
[I]t is quite certain that many of their fears were unfounded, and centred upon perfectly innocent people - especially those who were what we now call "mediumistic" or "sensitives".1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 72:
After all, Madame Rosita was a sensitive.1957, Sydney J. Bounds, The Robot Brains, London: Digit Books, page 82:
1 more example
Swedenborg was one of the leading savants of Europe; it would be absurd to place any of our sensitives on the same intellectual level.2003, Frederic W.H. Myers, Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death Part 2: