Feal vs. Feel: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on October 3, 2023
"Feal" is an archaic term meaning faithful or loyal, whereas "feel" primarily denotes a sensation or emotion.
Key Differences
"Feal" is a term that you might not come across frequently in modern English. Its roots are from old languages, denoting fidelity or loyalty. "Feel," on the other hand, is an everyday term, referring to the act of perceiving or experiencing sensations or emotions.
When one uses "feal," they're typically delving into historical or literary contexts, emphasizing loyalty or faithfulness. In contrast, "feel" is versatile, capturing both the physical touch and emotional states.
If someone were to say they are "feal" to a cause, they are expressing unwavering loyalty. If someone says they "feel" a certain way about a cause, they are discussing their emotions or opinions towards it.
While "feal" has largely fallen out of modern usage, its meaning can still be deciphered in historical texts or classical literature. "Feel" remains a staple in the language, used to describe a myriad of perceptions, both tangible and intangible.
In essence, while both words have roots in Old English, "feal" and "feel" have taken different paths; one becoming obsolete and the other evolving and expanding in its meanings.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Faithful or loyal
To perceive through touch or emotions
Usage Frequency
Archaic, seldom used
Common, used daily
Context
Historical, literary
Various: physical, emotional, opinionative
Grammatical Form
Often used as an adjective
Used as a verb, noun, and adjective
Etymology
Old French "feal," from Latin "fidelis"
Old English "fēlan"
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Feal and Feel Definitions
Feal
Loyal or faithful.
He remained feal to the king.
Feel
To perceive by touch.
I could feel the fabric's softness.
Feal
True to one's obligations or duties.
She was feal to her promises.
Feel
To experience an emotion.
I feel happy today.
Feal
(of things) Cosy; clean; neat.
Feel
An act of touching something to examine it.
Give it a feel before buying.
Feal
(of persons) Comfortable; cosy; safe.
Feel
A characteristic impression or atmosphere.
The room had a cozy feel.
Feal
Smooth; soft; downy; velvety.
Feel
To perceive through the sense of touch
Feel the velvety smoothness of a peach.
Feal
(archaic) faithful, loyal
Feel
To perceive as a physical sensation
Feel a sharp pain.
Feel the cold.
Feal
In a feal manner.
Feel
To touch
Reached out and felt the wall.
Feal
To hide.
Feel
To examine by touching
Felt the fabric for flaws.
Feal
(obsolete) To press on, advance.
Feel
To test or explore with caution
Feel one's way in a new job.
Feal
Faithful; loyal.
Feel
To undergo the experience of
Felt my interest rising.
Felt great joy.
Feel
To be aware of; sense
Felt the anger of the crowd.
Feel
To be emotionally affected by
She still feels the loss of her dog.
Feel
To be persuaded of (something) on the basis of intuition, emotion, or other indefinite grounds
I feel that what the informant says may well be true.
Feel
To believe; think
She felt his answer to be evasive.
Feel
To experience the sensation of touch.
Feel
To produce a particular sensation, especially through the sense of touch
The sheets felt smooth.
Feel
To produce a particular impression; appear to be; seem
It feels good to be home. See Usage Note at well2.
Feel
To be conscious of a specified kind or quality of physical, mental, or emotional state
Felt warm and content.
Feels strongly about the election.
Feel
To seek or explore something by the sense of touch
Felt for the light switch in the dark.
Feel
To have compassion or sympathy
I feel for him in his troubles.
Feel
Perception by touch or by sensation of the skin
A feel of autumn in the air.
Feel
The sense of touch
A surface that is rough to the feel.
Feel
An act or instance of touching or feeling
Gave the carpet a feel.
Feel
(Vulgar) An act or instance of sexual touching or fondling.
Feel
An overall impression or effect
"gives such disparate pictures ... a crazily convincing documentary feel" (Stephen King).
Feel
Intuitive awareness or natural ability
Has a feel for decorating.
Feel
(heading) To use or experience the sense of touch.
Feel
To become aware of through the skin; to use the sense of touch on.
You can feel a heartbeat if you put your fingers on your breast.
I felt cold and miserable all night.
Feel
(transitive) To find one's way (literally or figuratively) by touching or using cautious movements.
I felt my way through the darkened room.
I felt my way cautiously through the dangerous business maneuver.
Feel
(intransitive) To receive information by touch or by any neurons other than those responsible for sight, smell, taste, or hearing.
Feel
(intransitive) To search by sense of touch.
He felt for the light switch in the dark.
Feel
(heading) To sense or think emotionally or judgmentally.
Feel
(transitive) To experience an emotion or other mental state about.
I can feel the sadness in his poems.
Feel
(transitive) To think, believe, or have an impression concerning.
I feel that we need to try harder.
Feel
To experience an emotion or other mental state.
He obviously feels strongly about it.
She felt even more upset when she heard the details.
Feel
(intransitive) To sympathise; to have the sensibilities moved or affected.
I feel for you and your plight.
Feel
(transitive) To be or become aware of.
Feel
(transitive) To experience the consequences of.
Feel my wrath!
Feel
(copulative) To seem (through touch or otherwise).
It looks like wood, but it feels more like plastic.
This is supposed to be a party, but it feels more like a funeral!
Feel
To understand.
I don't want you back here, ya feel me?
Feel
(archaic) The sense of touch.
Feel
A perception experienced mainly or solely through the sense of touch.
Bark has a rough feel.
Feel
A vague mental impression.
You should get a feel for the area before moving in.
Feel
An act of fondling.
She gave me a quick feel to show that she loves me.
Feel
A vague understanding.
I'm getting a feel for what you mean.
Feel
An intuitive ability.
She has a feel for music.
Feel
A feeling; an emotion.
I know that feel.
Feel
Alternative form of fele
Feel
Alternative form of fele
Feel
Alternative form of fele
Feel
To perceive by the touch; to take cognizance of by means of the nerves of sensation distributed all over the body, especially by those of the skin; to have sensation excited by contact of (a thing) with the body or limbs.
Who feelThose rods of scorpions and those whips of steel.
Feel
To touch; to handle; to examine by touching; as, feel this piece of silk; hence, to make trial of; to test; often with out.
Come near, . . . that I may feel thee, my son.
He hath this to feel my affection to your honor.
Feel
To perceive by the mind; to have a sense of; to experience; to be affected by; to be sensible of, or sensitive to; as, to feel pleasure; to feel pain.
Teach me to feel another's woe.
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing.
He best can paint them who shall feel them most.
Mankind have felt their strength and made it felt.
Feel
To take internal cognizance of; to be conscious of; to have an inward persuasion of.
For then, and not till then, he felt himself.
Feel
To perceive; to observe.
Feel
To have perception by the touch, or by contact of anything with the nerves of sensation, especially those upon the surface of the body.
Feel
To have the sensibilities moved or affected.
[She] feels with the dignity of a Roman matron
And mine as man, who feel for all mankind.
Feel
To be conscious of an inward impression, state of mind, persuasion, physical condition, etc.; to perceive one's self to be; - followed by an adjective describing the state, etc.; as, to feel assured, grieved, persuaded.
I then did feel full sick.
Feel
To know with feeling; to be conscious; hence, to know certainly or without misgiving.
Garlands . . . which I feelI am not worthy yet to wear.
Feel
To appear to the touch; to give a perception; to produce an impression by the nerves of sensation; - followed by an adjective describing the kind of sensation.
Blind men say black feels rough, and white feels smooth.
Feel
Feeling; perception.
To intercept and have a more kindly feel of its genial warmth.
Feel
A sensation communicated by touching; impression made upon one who touches or handles; as, this leather has a greasy feel.
The difference between these two tumors will be distinguished by the feel.
Feel
An intuitive awareness;
He has a feel for animals
It's easy when you get the feel of it
Feel
The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;
The feel of the city excited him
A clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
It had the smell of treason
Feel
A property perceived by touch
Feel
Manual-genital stimulation for sexual pleasure;
The girls hated it when he tried to sneak a feel
Feel
Undergo an emotional sensation;
She felt resentful
He felt regret
Feel
Come to believe on the basis of emotion, intuitions, or indefinite grounds;
I feel that he doesn't like me
I find him to be obnoxious
I found the movie rather entertaining
Feel
Perceive by a physical sensation, e.g., coming from the skin or muscles;
He felt the wind
She felt an object brushing her arm
He felt his flesh crawl
She felt the heat when she got out of the car
Feel
Seem with respect to a given sensation given;
My cold is gone--I feel fine today
She felt tired after the long hike
Feel
Have a feeling or perception about oneself in reaction to someone's behavior or attitude;
She felt small and insignificant
You make me feel naked
I made the students feel different about themselves
Feel
Undergo passive experience of:
We felt the effects of inflation
Her fingers felt their way through the string quartet
She felt his contempt of her
Feel
Be felt or perceived in a certain way;
The ground feels shaky
The sheets feel soft
Feel
Grope or feel in search of something;
He felt for his wallet
Feel
Examine by touch;
Feel this soft cloth!
The customer fingered the sweater
Feel
Examine (a body part) by palpation;
The nurse palpated the patient's stomach
The runner felt her pulse
Feel
Find by testing or cautious exploration;
He felt his way around the dark room
Feel
Produce a certain impression;
It feels nice to be home again
Feel
Pass one's hands over the sexual organs of;
He felt the girl in the movie theater
Feel
To believe or think something.
I feel that we should leave early.
FAQs
Can "feel" be used as a noun?
Yes, "feel" can be a noun, as in the "feel of the room."
Is "feal" the opposite of "feel"?
No, "feal" means loyal, while "feel" refers to sensation or emotion.
Can "feal" be found in any contemporary writings?
"Feal" might appear in historical or literary texts, but it's rare in contemporary writings.
Is "feel" related to emotions only?
No, "feel" can denote both physical touch and emotions.
Can "feel" indicate an opinion?
Yes, "feel" can indicate a belief or thought, as in "I feel we should go."
Is "feal" related to "loyalty"?
Yes, "feal" essentially means loyal or faithful.
Is "feal" commonly used today?
No, "feal" is an archaic term and is seldom used in modern English.
Are there synonyms for "feal"?
Yes, synonyms include loyal, faithful, and true.
Can "feel" be used to describe an atmosphere?
Yes, as in "the feel of the party was lively."
Which word is older, "feal" or "feel"?
Both have old origins, but "feal" is derived from Old French and Latin, while "feel" is from Old English.
Does "feel" always need a direct object?
No, "feel" can be used intransitively, as in "I feel cold."
Is there a noun form for "feal"?
"Fealty" is a related noun meaning loyalty or fidelity.
Is "feal" ever used in modern slang or idioms?
No, its use is largely restricted to archaic or historical contexts.
Can "feal" be used as a verb?
Historically, it has been used as an adjective, not typically as a verb.
Is "feel" the same as "think"?
Not exactly. While both can indicate opinions, "feel" is more about intuition or emotion, while "think" is about reasoned judgment.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
