Etymologically
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sentimentum

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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