sentence
sentence
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "sentence" is /ˈsɛn.təns/.
Sen-: /ˈsɛn/ - The "s" sound as in "sit," the "e" sound as in "bed," and the "n" sound as in "nap."
-tence: /təns/ - The "t" sound as in "top," a schwa sound (like the "a" in "about"), the "n" sound as in "nap," and the "s" sound as in "sit."
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: sentence
Plural Noun: sentences
Verb (base form): sentence
Verb (third-person singular present): sentences
Verb (present participle): sentencing
Verb (past tense/past participle): sentenced
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A set of words that is complete in itself, typically containing a subject and predicate, conveying a statement, question, exclamation, or command.
Synonyms: clause, phrase, utterance, statement
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a grammatical unit. One could argue for "fragment" or "run-on" in a linguistic context, but they aren't true antonyms of "sentence" itself.)
Definition: The punishment assigned to a defendant found guilty by a court, or the formal pronouncement of such punishment.
Synonyms: judgment, verdict, ruling, punishment, condemnation, penalty
Antonyms: acquittal, pardon, exoneration, clemency
Verb
Definition: To declare the punishment of an offender as decided by a court of law.
Synonyms: condemn, punish, doom, penalize, consign
Antonyms: acquit, pardon, exonerate, release, free
Examples of Use
Books:
"Every sentence in her new novel was meticulously crafted, showcasing her mastery of language."
"He carefully read the judge's sentence, his heart pounding with dread." (Stephen King, The Green Mile, 1996)
Newspapers:
"The court delivered its sentence today, giving the defendant 10 years in prison." (The New York Times)
"Journalists often strive for clarity and conciseness in every sentence of their reporting." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"AI language models are becoming increasingly adept at generating coherent and grammatically correct sentences." (Wired)
"After months of deliberation, the panel handed down its sentence for the disgraced former executive." (Bloomberg Businessweek Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The dramatic tension in the film was built not just through action, but through the carefully delivered sentences of the main antagonist." (Referring to dialogue in a film like No Country for Old Men)
Television Series: "In the latest episode, the jury finally reached a verdict, and the judge was preparing to announce the sentence." (From a legal drama series like Law & Order)
Podcasts: "The host's ability to construct engaging sentences kept listeners captivated throughout the entire episode." (Referring to narrative style in a podcast)
Video Games: "Players must carefully read each quest sentence to understand their objectives in the game." (Referring to in-game text in a role-playing game)
General Public Discourse:
"I just couldn't finish that book; every sentence felt like a struggle." (Casual conversation)
"The lawyer argued for a lighter sentence, citing the defendant's good character." (Discussion about a legal case)
"Can you help me rephrase this sentence? It doesn't sound quite right." (Academic or professional collaboration)
10 Quotes Using Sentence
"Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts." (William Strunk, Jr., The Elements of Style)
"The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all private property." (Karl Marx)
"Every word you add dilutes the sentence." (Miller Williams)
"I will call no being good who is not what I mean when I apply that epithet to my fellow creatures; and if such a creature can sentence me to hell for not so calling him, to hell I will go." (Giordano Bruno)
"A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it." (Edgar Allan Poe)
"It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what others say in a whole book." (Friedrich Nietzsche)
"You can, however, write a perfect sentence now and then. I have." (Gore Vidal)
"All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." (Ernest Hemingway)
"Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence." (Peter A. Levine)
"The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, and wretches hang that jurymen may dine." (Alexander Pope)
Etymology
The word "sentence" comes from a very old root meaning "to feel" or "to perceive."
It can be traced back through:
Middle French: sentence
Latin: sententia, which meant "way of thinking, opinion, sentiment, judgment, or decision." This Latin word itself came from sentiēns, the present participle of the verb sentiō, meaning "to feel" or "to think."
Proto-Indo-European: Ultimately, it goes back to a very ancient root, *sent-, which meant "to feel."
So, you can see how the meaning evolved from having a "feeling" or "opinion" to expressing that opinion, making a "judgment," and then eventually to the legal "sentence" (a formal judgment or punishment) and the grammatical "sentence" (a complete thought expressed in words).
The first known use of "sentence" in English (around the 12th or 13th century) referred to an authoritative pronouncement, a doctrine, or a judgment. It was about a weighty opinion or decision being delivered. The meaning related to a grammatical unit (a string of words forming a complete thought) developed later, around the 15th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Sentence
Death sentence: A legal punishment that involves putting someone to death.
Life sentence: A prison sentence for the remainder of a person's life.
To pass sentence: To formally declare the punishment for a convicted person.
To commute a sentence: To reduce the severity of a criminal sentence.
To suspend a sentence: To delay the execution of a sentence, often on condition of good behavior.
A raw sentence: (Lesser-known) A harsh or unfair judgment or punishment.
To get the full sentence: To receive the maximum possible punishment for a crime.
Broken sentence: A grammatically incomplete or poorly constructed sentence.
Run-on sentence: A sentence containing too many independent clauses joined incorrectly.
To feel the weight of the sentence: To fully experience the burden or impact of a judgment or punishment.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of sentence from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
