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(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.

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.

Sen"ten*cer (?), n. One who pronounced a sentence or condemnation.

sen*ten"tial (?), a. 1. Comprising sentences; as, a sentential translation. Abp. Newcome.

2. Of or pertaining to a sentence, or full period; as, a sentential pause.

Sen*ten"tial*ly, adv. In a sentential manner.

Sen*ten"ti*a*rist (?), n. A sententiary. Barnas Sears (Life of Luther).

Sen*ten"ti*ary (?), n. [LL. sententiarius.] One who read lectures, or commented, on the Sentences of Peter Lombard, Bishop of Paris (1159-1160), a school divine. R. Henry.

Sen*ten`ti*os"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being sententious. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Sen*ten"tious (?), a.[L. sentenciosus: cf. F. sentencieux.] 1. Abounding with sentences, axioms, and maxims; full of meaning; terse and energetic in expression; pithy; as, a sententious style or discourse; sententious truth.

How he apes his sire, Ambitiously sententious!

Addison.

2. Comprising or representing sentences; sentential. [Obs.] "Sententious marks." Grew.