Sen·tence n.
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 judicial 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.
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 saying not easily explained.
A king . . . understanding dark sentences. --Dan. vii. 23.