n. [ OE. sentement, OF. sentement, F. sentiment, fr. L. sentire to perceive by the senses and mind, to feel, to think. See Sentient, a. ] 1. A thought prompted by passion or feeling; a state of mind in view of some subject; feeling toward or respecting some person or thing; disposition prompting to action or expression. [ 1913 Webster ]

The word sentiment, agreeably to the use made of it by our best English writers, expresses, in my own opinion very happily, those complex determinations of the mind which result from the cooperation of our rational powers and of our moral feelings. Stewart. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alike to council or the assembly came,
With equal souls and sentiments the same. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, generally, a decision of the mind formed by deliberation or reasoning; thought; opinion; notion; judgment; as, to express one's sentiments on a subject. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sentiments of philosophers about the perception of external objects. Reid. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sentiment, as here and elsewhere employed by Reid in the meaning of opinion (sententia), is not to be imitated. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A sentence, or passage, considered as the expression of a thought; a maxim; a saying; a toast. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Sensibility; feeling; tender susceptibility. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mr. Hume sometimes employs (after the manner of the French metaphysicians) sentiment as synonymous with feeling; a use of the word quite unprecedented in our tongue. Stewart. [ 1913 Webster ]

Less of sentiment than sense. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Thought; opinion; notion; sensibility; feeling. -- Sentiment, Opinion, Feeling. An opinion is an intellectual judgment in respect to any and every kind of truth. Feeling describes those affections of pleasure and pain which spring from the exercise of our sentient and emotional powers. Sentiment (particularly in the plural) lies between them, denoting settled opinions or principles in regard to subjects which interest the feelings strongly, and are presented more or less constantly in practical life. Hence, it is more appropriate to speak of our religious sentiments than opinions, unless we mean to exclude all reference to our feelings. The word sentiment, in the singular, leans ordinarily more to the side of feeling, and denotes a refined sensibility on subjects affecting the heart. “On questions of feeling, taste, observation, or report, we define our sentiments. On questions of science, argument, or metaphysical abstraction, we define our opinions. The sentiments of the heart. The opinions of the mind . . . There is more of instinct in sentiment, and more of definition in opinion. The admiration of a work of art which results from first impressions is classed with our sentiments; and, when we have accounted to ourselves for the approbation, it is classed with our opinions.” W. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. sentimental. ] 1. Having, expressing, or containing a sentiment or sentiments; abounding with moral reflections; containing a moral reflection; didactic. [ Obsoles. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Nay, ev'n each moral sentimental stroke,
Where not the character, but poet, spoke,
He lopped, as foreign to his chaste design,
Nor spared a useless, though a golden line. Whitehead. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Inclined to sentiment; having an excess of sentiment or sensibility; indulging the sensibilities for their own sake; artificially or affectedly tender; -- often in a reproachful sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

A sentimental mind is rather prone to overwrought feeling and exaggerated tenderness. Whately. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Addressed or pleasing to the emotions only, usually to the weaker and the unregulated emotions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Romantic. -- Sentimental, Romantic. Sentimental usually describes an error or excess of the sensibilities; romantic, a vice of the imagination. The votary of the former gives indulgence to his sensibilities for the mere luxury of their excitement; the votary of the latter allows his imagination to rove for the pleasure of creating scenes of ideal enjoiment. “Perhaps there is no less danger in works called sentimental. They attack the heart more successfully, because more cautiously.” V. Knox. “I can not but look on an indifferency of mind, as to the good or evil things of this life, as a mere romantic fancy of such who would be thought to be much wiser than they ever were, or could be.” Bp. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. sentimentalisme. ] The quality of being sentimental; the character or behavior of a sentimentalist; sentimentality. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. sentimentaliste. ] One who has, or affects, sentiment or fine feeling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ CF. F. sentimentalité. ] The quality or state of being sentimental. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To regard in a sentimental manner; as, to sentimentalize a subject. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To think or act in a sentimental manner, or like a sentimentalist; to affect exquisite sensibility. C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a sentimental manner. [ 1913 Webster ]