sentient
UK: ˈsenʃənt | US: ˈsenʃənt
adj. capable of perceiving or feeling things
adj. conscious or aware of one's surroundings
sentient = sent<feel> + ient<adjective suffix>
- sent<feel>: From Latin sentire ("to feel, perceive"), the root of words like "sensation" and "sentiment."
- ient<adjective suffix>: A Latin-derived suffix forming adjectives, indicating a state or capacity (e.g., "patient," "ancient").
Etymology Origin:
The word "sentient" traces back to Latin sentire, which broadly meant "to perceive" through the senses or mind. Over time, it evolved in English (via French) to specifically describe the capacity for subjective experience, distinguishing living beings that "feel" from inanimate objects. The suffix -ient reinforces its adjectival role, aligning with similar terms like "conscious" or "aware."
Humans and animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain.
The robot was designed to mimic sentient behavior, though it lacked true awareness.
Philosophers debate whether artificial intelligence can ever become truly sentient.
Her sentient understanding of the environment made her an excellent naturalist.
The novel explores the moral implications of creating sentient machines.