sen·tence (sĕn'təns)
n.

1. A grammatical unit that is syntactically independent and has a subject that is expressed or, as in imperative sentences, understood and a predicate that contains at least one finite verb.
2. Law.
   1. A court judgment, especially a judicial decision of the punishment to be inflicted on one adjudged guilty.
   2. The penalty meted out.
3. Archaic. A maxim.
4. Obsolete. An opinion, especially one given formally after deliberation.

tr.v. Law, -tenced, -tenc·ing, -tenc·es.
To pronounce sentence upon (one adjudged guilty). See synonyms at condemn.

[Middle English, opinion, from Old French, from Latin sententia, from sentiēns, sentient-, present participle of sentīre, to feel.]

sentential sen·ten'tial (sĕn-tĕn'shəl) adj.
sententially sen·ten'tial·ly adv.

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---