Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Sentence?

\Sen"tence\, 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.] 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) 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.) 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.
\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 sententiously. [Obs.] --Feltham.