Sensed (4)
I believe the answer is:
felt
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">sensed</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">('feel' can be a synonym of 'sense')</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for felt that I've seen before include "investigated in touching way" , "Rather thought; a cloth" , "Soft fabric; touched" , "Was aware of; a fabric" , "compassion" .)