palpable

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈpælpəbəl/ UK /ˈpælpəbəl/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
able to be touched or felt; so intense as to seem tangible

The tension in the courtroom was almost palpable as the verdict neared.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · able to be touched or felt;... tangible perceptible apparent evident manifest obvious discernible

Opposites

intangible imperceptible impalpable subtle obscure

Word family

Forms palpably

Derived forms palpablypalpability

Related forms palpatepalpation

Simplified etymology

Palpable comes from late Latin palpabilis, based on Latin palpare, “feel” or “touch gently.” It originally described something that could literally be felt, while the figurative sense of a feeling so strong as to seem touchable was already present in late Latin and Late Middle English. The same Latin verb also gave rise to palpate and, through the variant palpitare, to palpitate and palpitation.

Etymology

From Late Latin palpabilis 'that may be touched or felt', from Latin palpare 'to touch gently, stroke'.

palpabilis Latin palpare Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# palpable

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈpælpəbəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpælpəbəl/

## Meanings
1. able to be touched or felt; so intense as to seem tangible

## Examples
- The tension in the courtroom was almost palpable as the verdict neared.

## Synonyms
- tangible
- perceptible
- apparent
- evident
- manifest
- obvious
- discernible

## Antonyms
- intangible
- imperceptible
- impalpable
- subtle
- obscure

## Derived Forms
- palpably
- palpability

## Related Forms
- palpate
- palpation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: palpabilis
- Root: palpare

## Etymology
From Late Latin palpabilis 'that may be touched or felt', from Latin palpare 'to touch gently, stroke'.

## AI Etymology
Palpable comes from Late Latin palpabilis 'that may be touched or felt', from Latin palpare 'to touch gently, stroke'. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "able to be touched or felt; so intense as to seem tangible", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin palpabilis and Latin palpare. Derivative forms include palpably, palpability; related words include palpate, palpation.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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