The Only Use of
palpable
in
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
- The city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already—it had not been light all day—and candles were flaring in the windows of the neighbouring offices, like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air.†
p. 4.5palpable = very apparent
Definitions:
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(1)
(palpable) very apparent (so strong, it almost seems to take a material form that can be touched)"Palpable" is frequently used to describe the intensity of an emotion shared between people who can see each other. The implication is that the emotion is so strong, it almost takes a material form that can be touched.
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(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
In medicine, "palpable" means that something such as a tumor can be detected by palpitation; i.e., a physician's touch.