sentence
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sentence
- /ˈsɛn.təns/
- [ˈsɛn.tn̩(t)s] US
- [ˈsɛn.ʔn̩(t)s] US
Rhymes with -ɛntəns
Where it comes from
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”).
noun sentences
- 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.
- 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.
- A punishment imposed on a person convicted of a crime.
- 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.
- 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
- A formula with no free variables.
- Any of the set of strings that can be generated by a given formal grammar.
- 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 […]
- One's opinion; manner of thinking. My sentence is for open war.
- 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, [...]
Similar: verdict, conviction
verb sentences · sentencing · sentenced
- To declare a sentence on a convicted person; to condemn to punishment. The judge sentenced the embezzler to ten years in prison, along with a hefty fine.
- To decree, announce, or pass as a sentence. “We are empowered to deliver thee to prison; yea, the law commands us to sentence death upon the abettors of this mischief.[…]"
- To utter sententiously. Let me heare one wise man sentence it, rather then twenty Fooles, garrulous in their lengthened tattle.
