dark sentence

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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.] [1913 Webster]

Tales of best sentence and most solace.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

The discourse itself, voluble enough, and full of sentence.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2. (a) An opinion; a decision; a determination; a judgment, especially one of an unfavorable nature. [1913 Webster]

My sentence is for open war.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

That by them [Luther's works] we may pass sentence upon his doctrines. --Atterbury. [1913 Webster] (b) A philosophical or theological opinion; a dogma; as, Summary of the Sentences; Book of the Sentences. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Received the sentence of the law.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

4.A short saying, usually containing moral instruction; a maxim; an axiom; a saw. --Broome. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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: [1913 Webster]

He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals all.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

Dark sentence, a saying not easily explained. [1913 Webster]

A king . . . understanding dark sentences.— Dan. vii. 23.[1913 Webster]