ˈsentəmənt noun
( -s )
Etymology: French or Medieval Latin; French sentiment from Medieval Latin sentimentum, from Latin sentire to feel, perceive + -mentum -ment — more at sense
1.
a. : an attitude, thought, or judgment permeated or prompted by feeling : a complex of emotion and idea : predilection
rising sentiment for broadening the tax base — New York Times
public sentiment for good roads greatly increased — American Guide Series: North Carolina
his own antislavery sentiments were sincere — Helen C. Boatfield
b. : a specific view or notion : opinion
am obliged to differ from nearly every sentiment expressed — Gilbert Parker
share their sentiments … on school problems — Julius May
2.
a. : feeling , emotion
generated within him a sentiment of good will and cooperation — A.L.Funk
stimulating to the sentiments and occasionally interesting to the mind — Virgil Thomson
b. : refined feeling : keen or delicate sensibility especially as expressed in a work of art or evinced in conduct
a strong, frank, and positive character, of keen wit and generous sentiment — E.V.Wilcox
poems of sentiment and reflection — Matthew Arnold
an almost religious sentiment of the dignity of art — Meyer Schapiro
c. : emotional idealism
community life in those days was a requisite of survival rather than a matter of sentiment — Dana Burnet
making sentiment a substitute for action
d. : a romantic or nostalgic feeling verging on sentimentality
still keeps a bartender to preside over its ornate old bar, mostly for sentiment ' s sake — Green Peyton
so much slush and sentiment — Jack London
just the difference between passion and silly sentiment — A.T.Quiller-Couch
3.
a. : an emotional idea as set forth in literature or art
the book expresses the noblest sentiments
b. : the emotional significance of a passage or expression as distinguished from its verbal context
a diplomatic statement is a statement about which everything is true except the sentiment which prompts it — Joseph Conrad
to my thinking the sentiments of the pledge, properly interpreted, are unexceptionable — W.T.Hastings
c. : an emotionally tinged thought or wish expressed as a maxim, axiom, or epigram
cards … with appropriate verses and sentiments — Bks. of Jewish Interest
I'll give you a sentiment ; here's Success to usury — R.B.Sheridan
Synonyms: see feeling , opinion