"act or power of perceiving," 1768, from percipient + -ence. Related: Percipiency (1660s).
Entries linking to percipience
percipient adj.
"having the faculty of perception," 1690s, from Latin percipientem (nominative percipiens), present participle of percipere (see perceive). Earlier in English as a noun, "one who perceives" (1660s).