Here's a breakdown of its evolution:
* Latin "sententia": This word originally meant "feeling," "opinion," or "thought." It's related to the verb "sentire," meaning "to feel."
* Medieval Latin "sententia": In medieval times, "sententia" started taking on the meaning of "maxim," "proverb," or "saying." This shift likely occurred because these short, pithy sayings often expressed a particular feeling or opinion.
* Middle English "sentence": By the Middle English period, "sentence" adopted its modern meaning of a complete thought expressed in words. This shift was likely influenced by the growing use of Latin in legal and philosophical contexts. During this time, "sentence" was also used to refer to a legal judgment.
* Modern English "sentence": Today, we use "sentence" to refer to a group of words that express a complete thought, typically containing a subject and a verb. The legal meaning of "sentence" persists, referring to a punishment imposed by a court.
So, while the word "sentence" began as a term for feeling or opinion, its evolution through history ultimately led to its modern meaning of a complete thought in written or spoken language.