Sentence — Defs

01 n. Sense; meaning; significance.

1.
Sense; meaning; significance.[Obs.]
“Tales of best sentence and most solace.” — Chaucer.

“The discourse itself, voluble enough, and full of sentence.” — Milton.
2.
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.
3.
A philosophical or theological opinion; a dogma; as, Summary of the Sentences; Book of the Sentences.
4.
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.(Law)
“Received the sentence of the law.” — Shak.
5.
A short saying, usually containing moral instruction; a maxim; an axiom; a saw.
6.
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.(Gram.) See: Proposition
“He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals all.” — Pope.

“A king . . . understanding dark sentences.” — Dan. vii. 23.

Phrases & compounds

Dark sentence — a saying not easily explained.

02 v. t. To pass or pronounce judgment upon; to doom; to condemn to punishment; to prescribe the punishment of.

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.]
3.
To utter sententiously.[Obs.]