Latin

Verb

sentiō ‎(present infinitive sentīre, perfect active sēnsī, supine sēnsum); fourth conjugation

1. I feel; I perceive with the senses
   • 8 CE, Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.553

     Hanc quoque Phoebus amat positaque in stipite dextra
     sentit adhuc trepidare novo sub cortice pectus

     But yet Phoebus loves her in this form and pressing his right hand
     he feels still the trembling heart under the bark.

2. I perceive: I notice mentally
   • 100 BCE – 44 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 4.14

     Prius ad hostium castra pervenit quam quid ageretur Germani sentire possent.

     He arrived at the camp of the enemy before the Germans could perceive what was going on.

3. I have an opinion; I feel an emotion
   • c. 100 CE – 110 CE, Tacitus, Histories 1.1

     ...ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet.

     ...where to feel what you wish, and what you feel to say, is permitted.

Inflection

Synonyms

• (feel, perceive with the senses): percipiō

Related terms

Descendants

References

• sentio in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• sentio in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• SENTIO in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• Félix Gaffiot (1934), “sentio”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.
• Meissner, Carl; Auden, Henry William (1894) Latin Phrase-Book, London: Macmillan and Co.
  • to hold the same views: idem sentire (opp. dissentire ab aliquo)
    
  • give me your opinion: dic quid sentias
    
  • to agree with a person: consentire, idem sentire cum aliquo
    
  • to think one thing, say another; to conceal one's opinions: aliter sentire ac loqui (aliud sentire, aliud loqui)
    
  • to have the good of the state at heart: bene, optime sentire de re publica
    
  • to have the good of the state at heart: omnia de re publica praeclara atque egregia sentire
    
  • to have the same political opinions: idem de re publica sentire
    
  • to foster revolutionary projects: contra rem publicam sentire
    
  • I will give you my true opinion: dicam quod sentio
    
  • (ambiguous) to come within the sphere of the senses: sub sensum or sub oculos, sub aspectum cadere
    
  • (ambiguous) to be a man of taste: sensum, iudicium habere
    
  • (ambiguous) to express oneself in popular language: ad vulgarem sensum or ad communem opinionem orationem accommodare (Off. 2. 10. 35)
    
  • (ambiguous) to be quite insensible of all feelings to humanity: omnem humanitatis sensum amisisse