Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
sen·ti·ment
\\ˈsen-tə-mənt\\ noun ETYMOLOGY French or Medieval Latin; French, from Medieval Latin sentimentum, from Latin sentire
DATE 1639
1.
a. an attitude, thought, or judgment prompted by feeling : predilection
b. a specific view or notion : opinion
2.
a. emotion
b. refined feeling : delicate sensibility especially as expressed in a work of art
c. emotional idealism
d. a romantic or nostalgic feeling verging on sentimentality3.
a. an idea colored by emotion
b. the emotional significance of a passage or expression as distinguished from its verbal contextSynonyms: see feeling
,
opinion
sentiment
late 14c., sentement, "personal experience, one's own feeling," from O.Fr. sentement (12c.), from M.L. sentimentum "feeling, affection, opinion," from L. sentire "to feel" (see sense). Meaning "what one feels about something" (1630s) and modern spelling seem to be a re-introduction from French (where it was spelled sentiment by this time). A vogue word with wide application mid-18c., commonly "a thought colored by or proceeding from emotion" (1762), especially as expressed in literature or art. The 17c. sense is preserved in phrases such as my sentiments exactly.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
sentiment
sen·ti·ment / 5sentimEnt / noun1. [C, U] (formal) a feeling or an opinion, especially one based on emotions
(基于情感的)观点,看法；情绪:
the spread of nationalist sentiments
民族主义情绪的传播
This is a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with.
这种态度我完全赞同。
Public sentiment is against any change to the law.
公众的意见是反对对该法律作任何修改。
2. [U] (sometimes disapproving) feelings of pity, romantic love, sadness, etc. which may be too strong or not appropriate
(失之过度或不恰当的)伤感,柔情,哀伤:
There was no fatherly affection, no display of sentiment.
没有像父爱般的亲昵,没有显得过于激动。
There is no room for sentiment in business.
在生意场上心肠不能软。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishsentiment
noun
ADJ. deep, strong | growing, rising | fine, lofty, noble All these noble sentiments have little chance of being put into practice. | national, popular, public | nationalist/nationalistic, patriotic | anti-British, anti-Japanese, etc. | racist | anti-government, anti-war, etc. | moral, religious The people are renowned for their deep religious sentiment.
VERB + SENTIMENT express | agree with, echo, endorse, share He agrees with the sentiments expressed in the editorial. | disagree with | arouse
SENTIMENT + VERB grow
PREP. ~s about/on It would be a mistake to ignore their strong sentiments on the issue. | ~ against The killings at the weekend helped arouse popular sentiment against the organization. | ~ in favour of public sentiment in favour of state ownership
PHRASES my sentiments exactly (= I agree) ‘I don't see why we should change our plans just because of him.’ ‘My sentiments exactly.’
sentiment noun
⇨ emotion (a display of sentiment)
⇨ view 1 (my sentiments exactly)
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
sen·ti·ment
\ˈsentəmənt\
noun
(
-s)
Etymology: French or Medieval Latin; French
sentiment from Medieval Latin
sentimentum, from Latin
sentire to feel, perceive +
-mentum -ment — more at
sense
1.
a. : an attitude, thought, or judgment permeated or prompted by feeling
: a complex of emotion and idea
: predilection
< rising sentiment for broadening the tax base — New York Times >
< public sentiment for good roads greatly increased — American Guide Series: North Carolina >
< his own antislavery sentiments were sincere — Helen C. Boatfield >
b. : a specific view or notion
: opinion
< am obliged to differ from nearly every sentiment expressed — Gilbert Parker >
< share their sentiments … on school problems — Julius May >2.
a. : feeling
,
emotion
< generated within him a sentiment of good will and cooperation — A.L.Funk >
< stimulating to the sentiments and occasionally interesting to the mind — Virgil Thomson >
b. : refined feeling
: keen or delicate sensibility especially as expressed in a work of art or evinced in conduct
< a strong, frank, and positive character, of keen wit and generous sentiment — E.V.Wilcox >
< poems of sentiment and reflection — Matthew Arnold >
< an almost religious sentiment of the dignity of art — Meyer Schapiro >
c. : emotional idealism
< community life in those days was a requisite of survival rather than a matter of sentiment — Dana Burnet >
< making sentiment a substitute for action >
d. : a romantic or nostalgic feeling verging on sentimentality
< still keeps a bartender to preside over its ornate old bar, mostly for sentiment's sake — Green Peyton >
< so much slush and sentiment — Jack London >
< just the difference between passion and silly sentiment — A.T.Quiller-Couch >3.
a. : an emotional idea as set forth in literature or art
< the book expresses the noblest sentiments >
b. : the emotional significance of a passage or expression as distinguished from its verbal context
< a diplomatic statement is a statement about which everything is true except the sentiment which prompts it — Joseph Conrad >
< to my thinking the sentiments of the pledge, properly interpreted, are unexceptionable — W.T.Hastings >
c. : an emotionally tinged thought or wish expressed as a maxim, axiom, or epigram
< cards … with appropriate verses and sentiments — Bks. of Jewish Interest >
< I'll give you a sentiment; here's Success to usury — R.B.Sheridan > Synonyms: see feeling
,
opinion