[f. as prec. + -ING2.] That feels.
1. a. That is the subject of sensation; sentient. b. Capable of sensation; sensitive.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg. (MS. A), 174. In þe heed þerof is fleisch þat is felynge.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg. (1867), 19.
| Wiþ trees and gras þou ȝaf us growinge, | |
| Wiþ beestis, feelinge lijf haue we, | |
| And with aungils we haue vndirstondinge, | |
| And þerbi we schulden know þee. |
1548–77. Vicary, Anat., iv. (1888), 31. The foremost Ventrikle of the brayne springeth seuen payre of sensatiue or feeling senews.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 6 a. Then passe on to those things, of growing, and feeling life, which vpon her face doe relieue themselues.
1867. M. Arnold, Youth & Calm, Poems, 1877, I. 24. For feeling nerves and living breath.
transf. 1680. Otway, Orphan, III. vii. The feeling Ayr’s at rest.
2. Affected by emotion; accessible to emotion; sympathetic, compassionate.
1618. E. Elton, Rom., vii. (1622), 494. Let them with feeling hearts magnifie the Name of the Lord.
1639. Bury Wills (1850), 179. I haue bene, am, and ever shalbee, a feeleing member.
1772. Ann. Reg., 194/2. The whole demeanor … did honour to them as feeling men, and peaceable citizens.
1854. J. S. C. Abbott, Napoleon (1855), I. xiv. 243. Bonaparte, apart from politics, was feeling, kind, and accessible to pity.
b. Of language, manner, etc.: Indicating emotion or sensibility.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, Wks. (Grosart), II. 167.
| Thy wailing words do much my spirits moue; | |
| They vttered are in such a feeling fashion, | |
| That Sorrowe’s worke against my will I proue. |
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. ii. 15.
| His feeling wordes her feeble sence much pleased, | |
| And softly sunck into her molten hart. |
1737. Hist. Clorana, 77. This discourse was too feeling for Bellmont to bear much longer.
1799. Sheridan, Pizarro, IV. i. A feeling boldness in those eyes assures me that thy soul is noble.
1880. Mrs. Riddell, Myst. Palace Gard., xiv. (1881), 135. He could not have used more feeling language.
3. In quasi-passive sense: That is deeply or sensibly felt or realized, heart-felt, acute, vivid.
1530. Tindale, Answ. More, Wks. (1573), 250/1. God hath … geuen them a feeling faith of the mercy that is in Christ Jesu.
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & F., liii. 31.
| Even now, standing in shame to be hangéd high, | |
| It was to him, a feeling greefe of grudge. |
1605. Shaks., Lear, IV. vi. 226.
| Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows, | |
| Am pregnant to good pity. |
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 150. Knowing now by a feeling experience, her fathers reasons to be true.
1706. Cibber, Perolla and Izadora, 1.
| For I confess it is a feeling Pleasure | |
| With such Excesses to afflict thy Soul. |
1721. Southerne, Oroon., V. iv.
| I had a feeling [ed. 1696 living] sense | |
| Of all your royal favours. |
