Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
FEELING
I. noun
Date: 12th century
1. a. the one of the basic physical senses of which the skin contains the chief end organs and of which the sensations of touch and temperature are characteristic ; touch , a sensation experienced through this sense, generalized bodily consciousness or sensation, appreciative or responsive awareness or recognition,
2. an emotional state or reaction , susceptibility to impression ; sensitivity ,
3. the undifferentiated background of one's awareness considered apart from any identifiable sensation, perception, or thought, the overall quality of one's awareness, conscious recognition ; sense ,
4. often unreasoned opinion or belief ; sentiment , presentiment , capacity to respond emotionally especially with the higher emotions, the character ascribed to something ; atmosphere ,
7. the quality of a work of art that conveys the emotion of the artist, sympathetic aesthetic response, feel 4, Synonyms: see: feeling
II. adjective
Date: 14th century
1. sentient , sensitive , easily moved emotionally, deeply felt, expressing emotion or sensitivity, feelingly adverb feelingness noun