Dark sentence

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]