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sententia

Etymology and origin of the Latin word sententia

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Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (sentiō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sɛnˈtɛn.ti.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [senˈtɛn.t͡si.a][1]

Forms

sententia f (genitive sententiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from earlier *sentientia, from the participle of sentiō “to feel, perceive” and -ia.[2][3][1] Wiktionary also mentions a Proto-Italic *sententjā continuing an old aorist, and Etymonline calls the form an irregular, dissimilated formation.[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus, in the Epidicus, says “unless your opinion is otherwise”.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It was a way of thinking, opinion, and in respect of the future a purpose or intention.[2] In politics it was the opinion a senator gave when asked, in effect his vote, and a vote in any assembly or of a juror.[2][1] It was also an authoritative decision, especially a judicial sentence.[2] In language it meant a thought or idea, as Cicero says Pericles and Thucydides abounded more in ideas than words, the sense or meaning of a word, a maxim, and a sentence or clause.[2][1] Isidore defines a sententia as an impersonal saying, quoting Terence: compliance wins friends, truth breeds hatred.[6] Döderlein contrasts sententia, a view based on clear conviction, with opīniō, an opinion based on feeling.[7]

In medieval Latin it was also a condemnation or punishment.[8] English sentence is recorded around 1200 as doctrine or an authoritative pronouncement.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of opinion and purpose.[2][5]
  • 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it of votes.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of ideas and votes in the senate.[2][5]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore defines it as an impersonal saying.[6][5]
  • c. 1200 – English sentence is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An opinion, way of thinking.[2][1]
  2. A purpose, intention.[2][1]
  3. An opinion given in the senate; a vote.[2][1]
  4. A decision, decree; a judicial sentence.[2][1]
  5. A thought, idea; the sense or meaning of words.[2][1]
  6. A maxim, aphorism.[1][6]
  7. (grammar) A sentence, clause.[2][1]
  8. (Medieval Latin) A condemnation, punishment.[8]

Word family

  • sententiālis
  • sententiola
  • sententiōsus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
Cite this entry

“Sententia.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/sententia. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·