THE FIRST WORD

palpable

PRONUNCIATION:

(PAL-puh-buhl) 

MEANING:

adjective:
1. Easily perceived; obvious.
2. Capable of being touched or felt; tangible.
3. Capable of being discerned by touching (as an illness or a disease).

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin palapare (to touch, caress), from palpus (palm, stroke, caress). Ultimately from the Indo-European root pal- (to touch, feel, or shake), which also gave us palpitate, feel, and sprachgefuhl. Earliest documented use: 1395.

USAGE:

"And with that peace has come a palpable prosperity: last year GDP grew by over 7%."
Not Quite the Usual Walkover; The Economist (London, UK); Jul 13, 2013.