insensible Hear it!

insensible Definition

in·sen·sible (in sensə bəl)

adjective

  1. lacking sensation; not having the power to perceive with the senses
  2. having lost sensation; unconscious
  3. not recognizing or realizing; unaware; indifferent
  4. not responsive emotionally; without feeling
  5. so small, slight, or gradual as to be virtually imperceptible
  6. not intelligible; without meaning: now chiefly in legal use
  7. Obsolete senseless; stupid

Etymology: OFr < L insensibilis: see in- & sensible

insensible Related Forms
in·sen′·sibil·ity noun in·sen·sibly adverb
insensible Synonyms

insensible

modif.

  1. Unconscious

    swooning, torpid, numb, unaware; see unaware, unconscious 1.

  2. Indifferent

    impassive, apathetic, unappreciative, impervious; see callous, indifferent 1, unmoved 2.

insensible Usage Examples

Preposition: within

  • second: No stun is used for sheep as they generally become insensible within 10 seconds.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • render: It was shown that the energy imparted by the hammer blows had been insufficient to render the dogs insensible.

Modifying Another Word

  • quite: The child was not quite insensible, tho nearly so.
  • not: Even a great criminal is not insensible to such an appeal.
  • utterly: The House however is utterly insensible to all " principles " of this kind.
  • almost: The next noon but one an almost insensible female form was carried or rather dragged to the scaffold.
  • apparently: These persons then fell down to the ground apparently insensible.
  • nearly: The solar radiation on this planet is nearly insensible.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: In their very great misery they had become insensible to the bite of the lash or the bruise of the club.
  • render: Duncan, tho rendered insensible, escaped with only minor injuries.
  • lie: They both stopped in sight down the lane, where the third man lay insensible.
  • fall: The next minute the ladder gave way and Macpherson fell insensible in the ditch.
  • seem: She seemed insensible, not only of nature, but of the presence of her companion.
  • carry: The whole scene swam before me, and I was carried back insensible by some who recognized me.

Modifies a noun

  • loss: This should be enough to cover insensible losses in addition to their urine volume.
  • form: The next noon but one an almost insensible female form was carried or rather dragged to the scaffold.
  • moisture: This is due to evaporation from the surface of the lungs during breathing and through the evaporation of insensible moisture on the skin.