palpable

[pal-puh-buhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR palpable ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

readily or plainly seen, heard, perceived, etc.; obvious; evident: a palpable lie; palpable absurdity.

capable of being touched or felt; tangible.

Medicine/Medical. perceptible by palpation.

Origin of palpable

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin palpābilis that can be touched, equivalent to palpā(re) to stroke, touch, palpate¹ + -bilis -ble

Related formspal·pa·bil·i·ty, pal·pa·ble·ness, nounpal·pa·bly, adverbnon·pal·pa·bil·i·ty, nounnon·pal·pa·ble, adjectivenon·pal·pa·bly, adverbun·pal·pa·ble, adjectiveun·pal·pa·bly, adverb

Synonyms for palpable

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR palpable ON THESAURUS.COM

1. manifest, plain. 2. material, corporeal.

Antonyms for palpable

1. obscure.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for palpably

substantially, physically, palpably, officially, clearly, plainly, evidently, manifestly, patently, actually, bodily, objectively, really, corporeally, mundanely, sensibly, tangibly, expressly, indubitably, openly

Examples from the Web for palpably

Contemporary Examples of palpably

It's a punch to the gut for Barb, and her pain is palpably felt here, and the line at the end—"Your 15 minutes are up."
Big Love's 12 Most Memorable Moments
Jace Lacob
March 19, 2011
So if what Reid said was palpably true, why is he in so much trouble?
Harry Reid Was Right
Peter Beinart
January 10, 2010
The mood inside the West Wing late Friday was cautiously, but palpably, optimistic about securing a Copenhagen deal.
Obama's New Climate Plan
Richard Wolffe
December 5, 2009
The campaign this time around is palpably tenser and the atmosphere is hotter.
Our Friend Iran?
Leslie H. Gelb
June 9, 2009

Historical Examples of palpably

Is it his fancy that at this moment brings them so palpably to him?
The Elm Tree Tales
F. Irene Burge Smith
The scene bore all too palpably the marks of violence and bloodshed.
Leading Articles on Various Subjects
Hugh Miller
I am sorry that the notion should so palpably wake your Lordship's amazement.
Roland Cashel
Charles James Lever
It is so palpably against them that he has to get rid of the most of them to make it stand.
Continental Monthly , Vol. 5, No. 6, June, 1864
Various
The laugh was shifting to the other side of their mouths most palpably.
Life On The Mississippi, Complete
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

British Dictionary definitions for palpably

palpable

adjective

(usually prenominal) easily perceived by the senses or the mind; obviousthe excuse was a palpable lie

capable of being touched; tangible

med capable of being discerned by the sense of toucha palpable tumour

Derived Formspalpability or palpableness, nounpalpably, adverb

Word Origin for palpable

C14: from Late Latin palpābilis that may be touched, from Latin palpāre to stroke, touch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for palpably

palpable

adj.

late 14c., "that can be touched," from Late Latin palpabilis "that may be touched or felt," from Latin palpare "touch gently, stroke" (see feel (v.)). Figurative sense of "easily perceived, evident" also is from late 14c. Related: Palpably.

palpably in Medicine

palpable

[păl′pə-bəl]

n.

Perceptible to touch; capable of being palpated.

Evident; obvious.