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Definitions for: Sentence
[n] (criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed; "the conviction came as no surprise"
[n] a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language; "he always spoke in grammatical sentences"
[n] the period of time a prisoner is imprisoned; "he served a prison term of 15 months"; "his sentence was 5 to 10 years"; "he is doing time in the county jail"
[v] pronounce a sentence on, in a court of law; "He was condemned to ten years in prison"
Webster (1913) Definition: Sen"tence, n. [F., from L. sententia, for sentientia,
from sentire to discern by the senses and the mind, to feel,
to think. See Sense, n., and cf. Sentiensi.]
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 judgical 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. --Broome.
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 saving not easily explained.
A king . . . understanding dark sentences. --Dan.
vii. 23.
Sen"tence, v. t. [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.] --Shak.
3. To utter sententiously. [Obs.] --Feltham.
Synonyms: condemn, condemnation, conviction, doom, judgment of conviction, prison term, time
Antonyms: acquittal
See Also: clause, complex sentence, compound sentence, constituent, convict, court-martial, declarative sentence, declaratory sentence, declare, final decision, final judgment, foredoom, grammatical constituent, hard time, interrogation, interrogative, interrogative sentence, linguistic string, murder conviction, question, rape conviction, reprobate, robbery conviction, run-on sentence, string, string of words, term, topic sentence, word string
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