sentence

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language

   They always spoke in grammatical sentences.

2. 2
   noun

   The decision or judgement of a jury or court; a verdict.

   The court returned a sentence of guilt in the first charge, but innocence in the second.

3. 3
   noun

   The judicial order for a punishment to be imposed on a person convicted of a crime.

   The judge declared a sentence of death by hanging for the infamous child rapist.

4. 4
   noun

   A saying, especially from a great person; a maxim, an apophthegm.

   Men (saith an ancient Greek sentence) are tormented by the opinions they have of things, and not by things themselves.

5. 5
   noun

   A grammatically complete series of words consisting of a subject and predicate, even if one or the other is implied. In modern writing, when using e.g. the Latin, Greek or Cyrillic alphabets, typically beginning with a capital letter and ending with a full stop or other punctuation.

   Near-synonym: clause

6. 6
   noun

   Sense; meaning; significance.

   Noght o word spak he moore than was neede, / And that was seyd in forme and reverence / And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence […]

7. 7
   noun

   One's opinion; manner of thinking.

   My sentence is for open war.

8. 8
   noun

   A pronounced opinion or judgment on a given question.

   [I]f it may bee lawfull to iudge or giue any ſentence thereof, it [the author of the book of Ruth] was either Samuell, or ſome other godly Prophet vnder the raigne of Saule, [...]

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French sentence, from Latin sententia (“way of thinking, opinion, sentiment”), from sentiēns, present participle of sentiō (“to feel, think”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sent- (“to feel”).