oversensibleadj.
/ˌəʊvəˈsɛnsᵻbl/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈsɛnsəb(ə)l/ Excessively sensible; excessively sensitive or aware of something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > acuteness of physical senses > [adjective] > very or excessively sensitive
oversensible1601
hypersensitive1871
supersensitive1880
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > capacity for emotion > sensitiveness or tenderness > [adjective] > excessively sensitive
over-tender?a1425
oversensible1601
weak1768
oversensitive1817
supersensitive1817
hypersensitive1871
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > common sense > [adjective] > excessively
oversensible1823
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xxiii. ii. 156 It hardeneth the throat and the mouth of the stomacke which is oversensible.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa III. xi. 84 A mother over-notable; a daughter over-sensible; and their Hickman, who is—over-neither.
1823 C. Lamb Imperfect Sympathies in Elia 142 His nation, in general, have not over-sensible countenances.
1867 Galaxy 4 90 It takes a larger amount of civilization than he possessed to make a man over-sensible of his own deficiencies.
1948 A. D. McKillop Eng. Lit. from Dryden to Burns 281 Mackenzie is capable of pointing out the dangers of an over-sensible heart.
1998 Sunday Times (Nexis) 25 Oct. She looks different, too. The high hair and oversensible clothes have gone, giving way to looser, more natural tresses and flirty frocks.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1601