feeler

Meaning

Noun

• Someone or something that feels.
• An antenna or appendage used for feeling, especially on an insect.
• Something ventured to test another's feelings, opinion, or position.
• Someone that assumes or imagines that one's affection is reciprocated; Someone that indulges in one's own wishful thinking; One who flatters oneself

Origin

• feel + -er. From Middle English feler (felen + -er), early 15c. Animal organ definition from 1660s. Transferred sense of "proposal put forth to observe the reaction it gets" is from 1830.