sensitive

Etymology

From Middle French sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus.

adj

1. Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses.
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. (of an issue, topic, etc.) 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, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel
6. Important, intricate, and requiring great delicacy.
   The president's untimely statement disrupted some very sensitive negotiations.
7. (of an instrument) Accurate; able to register small changes in some property.
8. (archaic) Having paranormal abilities that can be controlled through mesmerism.

noun

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
   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