The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Sentence \Sen"tence\, n. [F., from L. sententia, for sentientia,
   from sentire to discern by the senses and the mind, to feel,
   to think. See Sense, n., and cf. Sentiensi.]
   1. Sense; meaning; significance. [Obs.]
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            Tales of best sentence and most solace. --Chaucer.
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            The discourse itself, voluble enough, and full of
            sentence.                             --Milton.
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   2.
      (a) An opinion; a decision; a determination; a judgment,
          especially one of an unfavorable nature.
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                My sentence is for open war.      --Milton.
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                That by them [Luther's works] we may pass
                sentence upon his doctrines.      --Atterbury.
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      (b) A philosophical or theological opinion; a dogma; as,
          Summary of the Sentences; Book of the Sentences.
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   3. (Law) In civil and admiralty law, the judgment of a court
      pronounced in a cause; in criminal and ecclesiastical
      courts, a judgment passed on a criminal by a court or
      judge; condemnation pronounced by a judicial tribunal;
      doom. In common law, the term is exclusively used to
      denote the judgment in criminal cases.
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            Received the sentence of the law.     --Shak.
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   4. A short saying, usually containing moral instruction; a
      maxim; an axiom; a saw. --Broome.
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   5. (Gram.) A combination of words which is complete as
      expressing a thought, and in writing is marked at the
      close by a period, or full point. See Proposition, 4.
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   Note: Sentences are simple or compound. A simple sentence
         consists of one subject and one finite verb; as, "The
         Lord reigns." A compound sentence contains two or more
         subjects and finite verbs, as in this verse:
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               He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals all.
                                                  --Pope.
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   Dark sentence, a saying not easily explained.
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            A king . . . understanding dark sentences. --Dan.
                                                  vii. 23.
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