Category:Sentence

Sen"tence, n. Etym: [f., from l. sententia, for sentientia, from Sentire to discern by the senses and the mind, to feel, to think. See Sense, n., and cf. Sentiensi.]

1. Sense; meaning; significance. [obs.] Tales of best sentence and most solace. Chaucer. The discourse itself, voluble enough, and full of sentence. Milton.

2. (a) an opinion; a decision; a determination; a judgment, especially One of an unfavorable nature. My sentence is for open war. Milton. That by them [luther's works] we may pass sentence upon his Doctrines. Atterbury.

(b) a philosophical or theological opinion; a dogma; as, summary of The sentences; book of the sentences.

3. (law)

Defn: in civil and admiralty law, the judgment of a court pronounced In a cause; in criminal and ecclesiastical courts, a judgment passed On a criminal by a court or judge; condemnation pronounced by a Judgical tribunal; doom. In common law, the term is exclusively used To denote the judgment in criminal cases. Received the sentence of the law. Shak.

4. A short saying, usually containing moral instruction; a maxim; an Axiom; a saw. Broome.

5. (gram.)

Defn: a combination of words which is complete as expressing a Thought, and in writing is marked at the close by a period, or full Point. See proposition, 4.

Note: sentences are simple or compound. A simple sentence consists of One subject and one finite verb; as, "the lord reigns." A compound Sentence contains two or more subjects and finite verbs, as in this Verse: - He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals all. Pope. Dark sentence, a saving not easily explained. A king. . . understanding dark sentences. Dan. vii. 23.

Sentence Sen"tence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sentenced; p. pr. & vb. n. Sentencing.]

1. To pass or pronounce judgment upon; to doom; to condemn to Punishment; to prescribe the punishment of. Nature herself is sentenced in your doom. Dryden.

2. To decree or announce as a sentence. [obs.] Shak.

3. To utter sentenciously. [obs.] Feltham.