Experiences physical sensations through touch or emotions through mental states. Perceives or senses something through physical contact or intuitive awareness.
From Old English 'felan' meaning 'to touch, perceive by touch,' related to Latin 'palpare.' The emotional sense developed alongside the physical, as touch and emotion have always been linguistically linked across cultures.
The word 'feels' demonstrates how deeply intertwined physical and emotional experience are in human consciousness. We literally use the same word because emotions genuinely create physical sensations - heartbreak actually affects the heart, and we feel joy in our bodies, not just our minds.
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