(?), n. [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.]
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-Tales of best sentence and most solace. Chaucer.
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-The discourse itself, voluble enough, and full of sentence. Milton.
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2. (a)
An opinion; a decision; a determination; a judgment, especially one of an unfavorable nature.
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-My sentence is for open war. Milton.
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-That by them [Luther's works] we may pass sentence upon his doctrines. Atterbury.
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(b)
A philosophical or theological opinion; a dogma; as, Summary of the Sentences; Book of the Sentences.
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3. (Law)
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 judicial tribunal; doom. In common law, the term is exclusively used to denote the judgment in criminal cases.
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-Received the sentence of the law. Shak.
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4.
A short saying, usually containing moral instruction; a maxim; an axiom; a saw. Broome.
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5. (Gram.)
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.
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