sentio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɛn.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛn.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

sentiō (present infinitive sentīre, perfect active sēnsī, supine sēnsum); fourth conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *s(e)nt-ije/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *sn̥t-ie/o- (“to notice”).^[2][1] The closest cognates in meaning are Baltic and Slavic words for thinking, such as Lithuanian sintė́ti (“to think”).^[2] Whether the root is the same as *sent- “to go”, seen in Old Irish sét (“road”) and Gothic 𐍃𐌹𐌽𐌸𐍃 (sinþs, “time, journey”), is doubtful.^[2][3] The noun sententia may come from *sentientia.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards,^[2] whose character says sentio sonitum, “I hear a sound”.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to perceive with any of the senses, as Ennius' hound that scents wild beasts, and to become aware of or realize something.^[3] Used alone it meant to have one's senses and wits, as in Plautus' “whom the gods love dies young, while he is strong, has his senses and his wits”.^[3] It also meant to experience or undergo, and to feel the effect of something.^[3]

From perceiving it came to mean to think or hold an opinion, as Cicero says many hold wrong views about the gods, and to give one's opinion in the senate.^[3] It meant to be minded towards someone, especially of loyalty, and of a writer to mean.^[3] Late and Christian Latin also used it for meeting.^[1] It survives as Italian sentire, French, Spanish and Portuguese sentir and Romanian simți.^[1] English sense, scent, sentence and sentiment all go back to it.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for hearing and noticing.^[3][5]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a hound scenting game.^[3][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for holding opinions and voting in the senate.^[3][5]
• c. 1200 – English sentence comes from its noun sententia.^[4]
• late 14th century – English sense and scent are first recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To perceive (with the senses); to feel, hear, smell.^[3][6]
2. To be aware of, realize.^[3][1]
3. To have one's senses, be conscious.^[3]
4. To experience, undergo; to feel the effects of.^[3][1]
5. To think, hold (an opinion).^[3][1]
6. To vote, give one's opinion (in the senate).^[3]
7. To be minded (towards).^[3][1]
8. (of a writer) To mean.^[3]

Word family

• cōnsentiō
• persentiō
• praesentiō
• prōsentiō
• sēnsibilis
• sēnsim
• sēnsiō
• sēnsus
• sententia
• sentiscō
• subsentiō
• assentior

Related words

• sēnsa
• sēnsātiō
• sēnsātus
• sēnsibiliter
• sēnsifer
• sēnsificō
• sēnsificus
• sēnsilis
• sēnsuālis
• sēnsuālitās
• English sense
• English scent
• English sentence
• English sentiment

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes intellegere, understanding by reflection, from sentire, a natural perception through the senses or feelings.^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper