King James Bible Dictionary

SENT, preterit tense and participle passive of send.

SEN'TENCE, noun [from Latin sententia, from sentio, to think.]

1. In law, a judgement pronounced by a court or judge upon a criminal; a jdicial decision publicly and officially declared in a criminal prosecution. In technical language, sentence is used only for the declaration of judgement against the convicted of a crime. In civil cases, the decision of the court is called a judgement. In criminal cases, sentence is a judgement pronounced; doom.

2. In language not technical, a determination or decision given, particularly a decision that condemns, ar an unfavorable determination.

Let him be sent out lome of Luther's works, that by them we may pass sentence upon his doctrines. Atterbury.

3. An opinion; judgement concerning a controverted point.

4. A maxim; an axiom; a short saying containing moral instruction.

5. Vindication of one's innocence.

6. In grammar, a period; a number of words containing a complete sense or sentiment, and followed by a full pause. Sentences are simple or compound. A simple sentence consists of one subject and one finite verb; as, 'the Lord reigns.' A compound sentence two or more subjects and finite verbs, as in this verse,

He fills, he bounds, connects and equals all. Pope.

A dark sentence, a saying not easily explained.

SEN'TENCE, verb transitive

1. To pass or pronounce the judgement of a court on; to doom; as, to sentence a convict to death, to transportation, or to imprisonment.

2. To condenm; to doom to punisment.

Nature herself is sentenc'd in your doom. Dryden.

SENTEN'TIAL, adjective

1. Comprising sentences.

2. Pertaining to a sentence or full period; as a sentential pause.

SENTEN'TIOUS, adjective

1. Abounding with sentences, axioms and maxims; short and energetic; as a sententious style or discourse; sententious truth.

How he apes his sire,

Ambitiously sententious. Addison.

2. Comprising sentences; as sententious marks.

[This should be sentential.]

SENTEN'TIOUSLY, adverb In short expressive periods; with striking brevity.

Nausicca delivers her judgement sententiously, to give it more weight. Broome.

SENTEN'TIOUSNESS, noun Pithiness of sentences; brevity with strength.

The Medea I esteem for its gravity and sententiousness. Dryden.

Sentery, and sentry are corrupted from sentinel.

SENTIENT, adjective sen'shent. [Latin sentiens, sentio.] That perceives; having the faculty of perception. Man is a sentient being; he possesses a sentient principle.

SEN'TIENT, noun

1. A being or person that has the faculty of perception.

2. He that perceives.

SEN'TIMENT, noun [from Latin sentio, to feel, perceive or think.]

1. Properly. a thought prompted by passion or feeling.

2. In a popular sense, Thought; opinion; notion; judgement; the decilion of the mind formed by deliberation or reasoning. Thus in deliberative bodies, every man has the privilege of delivering his sentiments upon questions, motions and bills.

3. The sense, thought or opinion contained in words, but considered as distinct from them. We may like the sentiment, when we dislike the language.

4. Sensibility; feeling.

SENTIMENT'AL, adjective

1. Abounding with sentiment, or just opinions or reflections; as a sentimental discourse.

2. Expressing quick intellectual feeling.

3. Affecting sensibility; in a contemptuous sense.

SENTIMENT'ALIST, noun One that affects sentiment, fine feeling or exquisite sensibility.

SENTIMENTAL'ITY, noun Affectation of fine feeling or exqisite sensibility.

SENT'INEL, noun [from Latin sentio, to perceive.] In military affairs, a soildier sent to watch or guard an army, camp or other place from surprise, to observe the approach of danger and give notice of it. In popular sense, the word is contracted into sentry.

See Watchman
Watchman

SEN'TRY, noun

1. [See Sentinel.]

2. Guard; watch; the duty of a sentines.

O'er my slumbers sentry keep. Brown.

SEN'TRY-BOX, noun A box to cover a sentinel at his post, and shelter him from the weather.