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sentimentum

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word sentimentum

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
Ultimate origin
Latin sentiō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin sentio
French sentir
Italian sentire
Latin sentimentum
From the same root
Latin dissentio ← sentio
Latin praesentio ← sentio
Latin sensibilis ← sentio
Latin sensilis ← sentio
Latin sensim ← sentio
Latin sensitivus ← sentio
Latin sensus ← sentio
French ressentir ← sentir
French sentiment ← sentir
Italian sentimento ← sentire

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [sɛn.tiːˈmɛn.tũː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [sen.tiˈmɛn.tum][1]

Forms

sentīmentum n (genitive sentīmentī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sentiō (“to sense, feel”) + -mentum,[1][2][3] a medieval coinage.[4][2] The verb goes back to Proto-Italic *s(e)nt-ije/o- and Proto-Indo-European *snt-ie/o- (“to notice”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Du Cange quotes it from the chronicle of Cornelius Zantfliet and Gerson's treatise on the consolation of theology, meaning an opinion and a feeling of the mind.[6]

Semantic evolution

Medieval Latin used it for an opinion or judgement and for a feeling or affection of the mind,[6][2][1] and humanists of the early 16th century used it for an opinion or stance.[7] English sentiment (late 14th century, “one's own feeling”) comes from it partly through Old French sentement;[3] Italian sentimento also goes back to it.[4]

Timeline

  • late 14th century – English has sentement, from Old French and Medieval Latin.[3]
  • 1515 – Ursinus uses it in a letter to Hummelberg.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) An opinion, a judgement.[6][2][7]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A feeling, an affection of the mind; sentiment.[6][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b c d du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  7. ^ a b c Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
Cite this entry

“Sentimentum.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/sentimentum. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·