"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).
Entries linking to percipient
perceive v.
c. 1300, perceiven, "become aware of, gain knowledge of," especially "to come to know by direct experience," via Anglo-French parceif, Old North French *perceivre (Old French perçoivre) "perceive, notice, see; recognize, understand," from Latin percipere "obtain, gather, seize entirely, take possession of," also, figuratively, "to grasp with the mind, learn, comprehend," literally "to take entirely," from per "thoroughly" (see per) + capere "to grasp, take," from PIE root *kap- "to grasp."
Replaced Old English ongietan. Both the Latin senses were in Old French, though English uses the word almost always in the metaphorical sense. Related: Perceived; perceiving.
percipience n.
"act or power of perceiving," 1768, from percipient + -ence. Related: Percipiency (1660s).