sensitive

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
sensitive/ˈsensətɪv/

▶adjective

• 1 quick to detect, respond to, or be affected by slight changes, signals, or influences.

  ■ (of photographic materials) responding rapidly to the action of light.

• 2 having or showing a quick and delicate appreciation of the feelings of others.

• 3 easily offended or upset.

• 4 kept secret or with restrictions on disclosure to avoid endangering national security.

▶noun a person supposedly able to respond to paranormal influences.

– derivatives
sensitively adverb,
sensitiveness noun.

– origin ME (in the sense ‘sensory’): from OFr. sensitif, -ive or med. L. sensitivus, formed irregularly from L. sentire ‘feel’.