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sentence
[ sen-tns ]
noun
- Grammar. a grammatical unit of one or more words that expresses an independent statement, question, request, command, exclamation, etc., and that typically has a subject as well as a predicate, as in John is here. or Is John here? In print or writing, a sentence typically begins with a capital letter and ends with appropriate punctuation; in speech it displays recognizable, communicative intonation patterns and is often marked by preceding and following pauses.
- Law.
- an authoritative decision; a judicial judgment or decree, especially the judicial determination of the punishment to be inflicted on a convicted criminal:
Knowledgeable sources say that the judge will announce the sentence early next week.
- the punishment itself; term:
a three-year sentence.
- Music. a complete idea, usually consisting of eight to sixteen measures; period ( def 18 ). phrase ( def 4 ).
- Archaic. a saying, apothegm, or maxim.
- Obsolete. an opinion given on a particular question.
verb (used with object)
- to pronounce sentence upon; condemn to punishment:
The judge sentenced her to six months in jail.
sentence
/ sɛnˈtɛnʃəl; ˈsɛntəns /
noun
- a sequence of words capable of standing alone to make an assertion, ask a question, or give a command, usually consisting of a subject and a predicate containing a finite verb
- the judgment formally pronounced upon a person convicted in criminal proceedings, esp the decision as to what punishment is to be imposed
- an opinion, judgment, or decision
- music another word for period
- any short passage of scripture employed in liturgical use
the funeral sentences
- logic a well-formed expression, without variables
- archaic.a proverb, maxim, or aphorism
verb
- tr to pronounce sentence on (a convicted person) in a court of law
the judge sentenced the murderer to life imprisonment
Grammar Note
Derived Forms
- senˈtentially, adverb
- sentential, adjective
Other Words From
- sentenc·er noun
- pre·sentence verb (used with object) presentenced presentencing
- re·sentence noun verb (used with object) resentenced resentencing
- un·sentenced adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of sentence1
Word History and Origins
Origin of sentence1
Example Sentences
There’s an unlimited number of possible things we can say, of sentence structures, but not anything can be a sentence structure.
We have to come to terms with the fact that recognizing sentences written by humans is no longer a trivial task.
You can even set how many sentences you want in your summary.
Simple enough, but you can glean much information from that sentence.
It does not help anyone to have communities where people feel like living there is a death sentence.
As this list shows, punishments typically run to a short-ish jail sentence and/or a moderately hefty fine.
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice turned herself in to serve a 15-month sentence for bankruptcy fraud.
That Huckabee is mentioned in the same sentence with other aspiring conservative governors, especially Bobby Jindal, is laughable.
Brown had been serving a life sentence; McCollum had been on Death Row.
Had he been competently represented, the jury might well have failed to concur on a death sentence.
Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, "Well, drop out again—quick!"
Each sentence came as if torn piecemeal from his unwilling tongue; short, jerky phrases, conceived in pain and delivered in agony.
Sentence of fine and imprisonment passed upon lord Bacon in the house of peers for bribery.
John Wilkes released from the tower by the memorable sentence of chief justice Pratt.
It seeks the shortest phrase or sentence and adds successively all the modifiers, making no omissions.
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