- sentence (n.)
- late 13c., "doctrine, authoritative teaching," from Old French sentence (12c.), from Latin sententia "thought, meaning, judgment, opinion," from sentientem, present participle of sentire "be of opinion, feel, perceive" (see sense (n.)). Loss of first -i- in Latin by dissimilation. Meaning "punishment imposed by a court" is from c.1300; that of "grammatically complete statement" is attested from mid-15c., from notion of "meaning," then "meaning expressed in words."
- sentence (v.)
- "to pass judgment," c.1400, from sentence (n.). Related: Sentenced; sentencing. .