\Sen"ti*ment\, n. [OE. sentement, OF. sentement, F.
sentiment, fr. L. sentire to perceive by the senses and mind,
to feel, to think. See {Sentient}, a.]
1. A thought prompted by passion or feeling; a state of mind
   in view of some subject; feeling toward or respecting some
   person or thing; disposition prompting to action or
   expression.
         The word sentiment, agreeably to the use made of it
         by our best English writers, expresses, in my own
         opinion very happily, those complex determinations
         of the mind which result from the co["o]peration of
         our rational powers and of our moral feelings.
                                               --Stewart.
         Alike to council or the assembly came, With equal
         souls and sentiments the same.        --Pope.
2. Hence, generally, a decision of the mind formed by
   deliberation or reasoning; thought; opinion; notion;
   judgment; as, to express one's sentiments on a subject.
         Sentiments of philosophers about the perception of
         external objects.                     --Reid.
         Sentiment, as here and elsewhere employed by Reid in
         the meaning of opinion (sententia), is not to be
         imitated.                             --Sir W.
                                               Hamilton.
3. A sentence, or passage, considered as the expression of a
   thought; a maxim; a saying; a toast.
4. Sensibility; feeling; tender susceptibility.
         Mr. Hume sometimes employs (after the manner of the
         French metaphysicians) sentiment as synonymous with
         feeling; a use of the word quite unprecedented in
         our tongue.                           --Stewart.
         Less of sentiment than sense.         --Tennyson.
Syn: Thought; opinion; notion; sensibility; feeling.
Usage: {Sentiment}, {Opinion}, {Feeling}. An opinion is an
       intellectual judgment in respect to any and every kind
       of truth. Feeling describes those affections of
       pleasure and pain which spring from the exercise of
       our sentient and emotional powers. Sentiment
       (particularly in the plural) lies between them,
       denoting settled opinions or principles in regard to
       subjects which interest the feelings strongly, and are
       presented more or less constantly in practical life.
       Hence, it is more appropriate to speak of our
       religious sentiments than opinions, unless we mean to
       exclude all reference to our feelings. The word
       sentiment, in the singular, leans ordinarily more to
       the side of feeling, and denotes a refined sensibility
       on subjects affecting the heart. ``On questions of
       feeling, taste, observation, or report, we define our
       sentiments. On questions of science, argument, or
       metaphysical abstraction, we define our opinions. The
       sentiments of the heart. The opinions of the mind . .
       . There is more of instinct in sentiment, and more of
       definition in opinion. The admiration of a work of art
       which results from first impressions is classed with
       our sentiments; and, when we have accounted to
       ourselves for the approbation, it is classed with our
       opinions.'' --W. Taylor.