LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
verbfourth conjugation

sentiō

sentiō (present infinitive sentīre, perfect active sēnsī, supine sēnsum)
Classical[ˈsɛn.ti.oː]Ecclesiastical[ˈsɛn.t͡si.o]
№ 302 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

  1. to feel, to sense, to perceive (with the senses)
    Hanc quoque Phoebus amat positāque in stīpite dextrāBut yet Phoebus loves her in this form and pressing his right hand he feels still the trembling heart under the bark.8 CE, Ovidius, Metamorphoses 1.553
  2. to perceive, be aware of, to be sensible of, to notice mentally, to understand (by using one's senses)
    Prius ad hostium castra pervēnit quam quid agerētur Germānī sentīre possent.He arrived at the camp of the enemy before the Germans could perceive what was going on.c. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de bello Gallico 4.14
  3. to have an opinion or opine, to think, feel, judge, suppose
    Tū sī hīc sīs aliter sentiās.If you were in my place, you would think differently. (Present subjunctive used for a condition contrary to fact.)166 BCE, Publius Terentius Afer, Andria 310
    […]ubi sentīre quae velīs et quae sentiās dīcere licet.[…] where to feel what you wish, and what you feel to say, is permitted.c. 100 CE – 110 CE, Tacitus, Historiae 1.1
  4. to feel (an emotion)
  5. to agree (typically followed by cum)
  6. EcclesiasticalLate LatinLatin(figuratively) to meet
    Quī custōdit ōs suum custōdit animam suam: quī autem incōnsīderātus est ad loquendum sentiet mala.He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his soul: but he that hath no guard on his speech shall meet with evils. (Douay-Rheims trans., Challoner rev.: 1752 CE)c. 347 CE – 420 CE, Hieronymus, Vulgate Proverbs.13.3

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

corpore et animō cognōscō: dolōrem, odōrem, gaudium sentīmus.
sentiō -īre — in Mille Verba, Corpus Hūmānum

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Intelligere · Sentire · Cognoscere

Intelligere denotes a rational discernment, by means of reflection and combination; sentire, a natural discernment, by means of the feelings, immediate images, or perceptions, whether of the senses or of the mind; lastly, cognoscere denotes an historical discernment, by means of the senses and of tradition. Sen. Ir. iii. 13. Quidni gauderet, quod iram suam multi intelligerent, nemo sentiret? Cic. N. D. iii. 24. Quare autem in his vis deorum insit, tum intelligam quum cognovero. (vi. 175.)

Conjugation conjugation 4

active indicative
formpresentimperfectfutureperfectpluperfectfut. perfect
1st sg.sentiōsentiēbamsentiamsēnsīsēnseramsēnserō
2nd sg.sentīssentiēbāssentiēssēnsistīsēnserāssēnseris
3rd sg.sentitsentiēbatsentietsēnsitsēnseratsēnserit
1st pl.sentīmussentiēbāmussentiēmussēnsimussēnserāmussēnserimus
2nd pl.sentītissentiēbātissentiētissēnsistissēnserātissēnseritis
3rd pl.sentiuntsentiēbantsentientsēnsērunt
sēnsēre		sēnserantsēnserint
active subjunctive
active subjunctive
formpresentimperfectperfectpluperfect
1st sg.sentiamsentīremsēnserimsēnsissem
2nd sg.sentiāssentīrēssēnserīssēnsissēs
3rd sg.sentiatsentīretsēnseritsēnsisset
1st pl.sentiāmussentīrēmussēnserīmussēnsissēmus
2nd pl.sentiātissentīrētissēnserītissēnsissētis
3rd pl.sentiantsentīrentsēnserintsēnsissent
passive indicative
passive indicative
formpresentimperfectfuture
1st sg.sentiorsentiēbarsentiar
2nd sg.sentīris
sentīre		sentiēbāris
sentiēbāre		sentiēris
sentiēre
3rd sg.sentītursentiēbātursentiētur
1st pl.sentīmursentiēbāmursentiēmur
2nd pl.sentīminīsentiēbāminīsentiēminī
3rd pl.sentiuntursentiēbantursentientur
passive subjunctive
passive subjunctive
formpresentimperfect
1st sg.sentiarsentīrer
2nd sg.sentiāris
sentiāre		sentīrēris
sentīrēre
3rd sg.sentiātursentīrētur
1st pl.sentiāmursentīrēmur
2nd pl.sentiāminīsentīrēminī
3rd pl.sentiantursentīrentur
imperative
imperative
formactivepassive
pres. 2nd sg.sentīsentīre
pres. 2nd pl.sentītesentīminī
fut. 2nd sg.sentītōsentītor
fut. 3rd sg.sentītōsentītor
fut. 2nd pl.sentītōte—
fut. 3rd pl.sentiuntōsentiuntor
infinitives & participles
infinitives & participles
formactivepassive
present infinitivesentīresentīrī
perfect infinitivesēnsissesēnsum esse
future infinitivesēnsūrum essesēnsum īrī
present participlesentiēns
sentiente, sentientem, sentientēs, sentientī, sentientia, sentientibus, sentientis, sentientīs, sentientium		—
perfect participle—sēnsus
sēnsa, sēnsā, sēnsae, sēnsam, sēnsārum, sēnsās, sēnse, sēnsīs, sēnsō, sēnsōrum, sēnsōs
future participlesēnsūrus
sēnsūra, sēnsūrā, sēnsūrae, sēnsūram, sēnsūrārum, sēnsūrās, sēnsūre, sēnsūrī, sēnsūrīs, sēnsūrō, sēnsūrōrum, sēnsūrōs, sēnsūrum		sentiendus
sentiundus
gerundsentiendī, sentiendō, sentiendumsupinesēnsum, sēnsū

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

dic quid sentias
give me your opinion.
dicam quod sentio
I will give you my true opinion.
sensu audiendi carere
not to possess the sense of hearing.
sensum, iudicium habere
to be a man of taste.
idem de re publica sentire
to have the same political opinions.
nullam partem sensus habere
to possess not the least spark of feeling.
contra rem publicam sentire
to foster revolutionary projects.
aliquid sensus suaviter afficit
a thing makes a pleasant impression on the senses.
12 more phrases
sensus sani, integri, incorrupti
sound, unimpaired senses.
omnem humanitatis sensum amisisse
to be quite insensible of all feelings to humanity.
bene, optime sentire de re publica
to have the good of the state at heart.
consentire, idem sentire cum aliquo
to agree with a person.
aliquid sensus iucunditate perfundit
a thing makes a pleasant impression on the senses.
sensus movere (more strongly pellere)
to make an impression on the senses.
sensibus or sub sensus subiectum esse
to come within the sphere of the senses.
idem sentire (opp. dissentire ab aliquo)
to hold the same views.
sub sensum or sub oculos, sub aspectum cadere
to come within the sphere of the senses.
omnia de re publica praeclara atque egregia sentire
to have the good of the state at heart.
aliter sentire ac loqui (aliud sentire, aliud loqui)
to think one thing, say another; to conceal one's opinions.
ad vulgarem sensum or ad communem opinionem orationem accommodare (Off. 2. 10. 35)
to express oneself in popular language.

sentĭo, si, sum, 4 (
I. perf. sync. sensti, Ter. And. 5, 3, 11), v. a.
I. Physically.
A. In gen., to discern by the senses; to feel, hear, see, etc.; to perceive, be sensible of (syn. percipio).
(a). With acc.: calorem et frigus, Lucr. 1, 496; cf.: duritiem saxi, id. 4, 268; 3, 381 sq.: feram nare sagaci (venaticā), Enn. ap. Fest. p. 177 Müll. (Ann. v. 346 Vahl.): varios rerum odores, Lucr. 1, 298: sucum in ore, id. 4, 617 sq.: suavitatem cibi, Cic. Phil. 2, 45, 115: varios rerum colores, Lucr. 4, 492: sonitum, Plaut. Curc. 1, 2, 69: nil aegri, Lucr. 3, 832: utrumque (calorem et frigus) manu, id. 1, 496: famem, Liv. 25, 13: morbos articularios, Plin. 32, 4, 14, § 39.—In mal. part.: sensit delphina Melantho, Ov. M. 6, 120.—Pass.: posse prius ad angustias veniri, quam sentirentur, before they should be observed, Caes. B. C. 1, 67.—
(b). With inf. or an, object-clause: sei movero me seu secari sensero, Plaut. Merc. 2, 2, 40: sentio aperiri fores. id. Truc. 2, 3, 29: nec quisquam moriens sentire videtur, Ire foras animam, Lucr. 3, 607: sentire sonare, id. 4, 229 Munro.—
(g). Absol.: perpetuo quoniam sentimus, Lucr. 4, 228; 6, 935; Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 77: qui (homines) corruant, sed ita, ut ne vicini quidem sentiant, Cic. Cat. 2, 10, 21.—
b. Of things: pupula cum sentire colorem dicitur album, Lucr. 2, 811 sq. —Absol.: haud igitur aures per se possunt sentire, Lucr. 3, 633: si quis corpus sentire refutat, id. 3, 350; 3, 354; cf. id. 3, 552; 3, 625.—
B. In partic.
1. To perceive the effects (esp. the ill effects) of any thing; to feel, experience, suffer, undergo, endure: sentiet, qui vir siem, Ter. Eun. 1, 1, 21: jam curabo sentiat, Quos attentarit, Phaedr. 5, 2, 6: quid ipse ad Avaricum sensisset, etc., Caes. B. G. 7, 52; cf. Liv. 45, 28, 6: Centupirini etiam ceterarum civitatum damna ac detrimenta senserunt, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 45, § 108; id. Div. in Caecil. 12, 38; cf. Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 49, § 127: tecum Philippos et celerem fugam Sensi, Hor. C. 2, 7, 10: (Apollinem) vindicem, id. ib. 4, 6, 3: caecos motus orientis austri, id. ib. 3, 27, 22: contracta aequora (pisces), id. ib. 3, 1, 33: prima arma nostra (Salyi), Flor. 3, 2, 3: sentire paulatim belli mala, Tac. H. 1, 89: famem, Liv. 25, 13, 1; Curt. 9, 10, 11: damnum, Liv. 2, 64, 6: cladem belli, id. 35, 33, 6: inopiam rerum omnium, id. 43, 22, 10; 44. 7, 6: incommoda belli, id. 44, 14, 10: lassitudo jam et sitis sentiebatur, id. 44, 36, 2: ubi primum dolorem aliquis sentit, Cels. 6, 7 init.; cf. Lact. 7, 20, 7: cujus ulceris dolorem sentire etiam spectantes videntur, Plin. 34, 8, 19, § 59: corporis aegri vitia sentire, Curt. 8, 10, 29: qui in urbe se commoverit ... sentiet, in hac urbe esse consules vigilantes, esse egregios magistratus, etc., Cic. Cat. 2, 12, 27; cf. id. Sest. 28, 69; Ov. M. 13, 864.—Absol.: iste tuus ipse sentiet Posterius, Ter. Ad. 1, 2, 59.—Of beasts, etc.: oves penuriam sentiunt, Col. 7, 9, 3 sq.: frigus aut aestum, id. 7, 4, 7: praegelidam hiemem omnes pisces sentiunt, Plin. 9, 16, 24, § 57.—
b. Of things, to be affected or influenced by: meae istuc scapulae sentiunt, Plaut. Poen. 1, 1, 25; Liv. 9, 37: transitum exercitus (ager), id. 9, 41, 58: pestilentem Africum (Fecunda vitis), Hor. C. 3, 23, 5: lacus et mare amorem Festinantis eri, id. Ep. 1, 1, 84: alnos fluvii cavatas, Verg. G. 1, 136 al.; cf. Plin. Pan. 31, 5: carbunculi cum ipsi non sentiant ignes, Plin. 37, 7, 25, § 92: eadem (gemma) sola nobilium limam sentit, is affected by, id. 37, 8, 32, § 109: cum amnis sentit aestatem, et ad minimum deductus est, Sen. Ira, 3, 21, 1: miramur quod accessionem fluminum maria non sentiant, id. Q. N. 3, 4: illa primum saxa auctum fluminis sentiunt, id. ib. 4, 2, 7: totum mare sentit exortum ejus sideris, Plin. 9, 16, 25, § 58: caseus vetustatem, id. 11, 42, 97, § 242: herba cariem, id. 12, 7, 14, § 28: ferrum robiginem, id. 34, 14, 41, § 143. —
2. In the elder Pliny, to be susceptible of, to be subject or liable to a disease: morbos, Plin. 9, 49, 73, § 156: rabiem, id. 8, 18, 26, § 68: cariem, id. 12, 7, 14, § 28.—
II. Mentally.
A. Lit., to feel, perceive, observe, notice (syn. intellego).
(a). With acc.: id jam pridem sensi et subolet mihi, Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 7; so, quid, id. Truc. 1, 1, 39: quando Aesculapi ita sentio sententiam, I observe, understand, id. Curc. 2, 1, 2: primus sentio mala nostra, Ter. Ad. 4, 2, 7: numquam illum ne minimā quidem re offendi, quod quidem senserim, that I have perceived, Cic. Lael. 27, 103: ut cui bene quid processerit, multum illum providisse, cui secus, nihil sensisse dicamus, id. Rab. Post. 1, 1: praesentia numina sentit, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 134; cf. id. ib. 2, 2, 162; id. C. S. 73 et saep.: de victoriā atque exitu rerum sentire, Caes. B. G. 7, 52: omnia me illa sentire quae dicerem, nec tantum sentire, sed amare, Sen. Ep. 75, 3: illum sensisse quae scripsit, id. ib. 100, 11.—Poet.: ut vestram sentirent aequora curam, Ov. M. 5, 557: nec inania Tartara sentit, i. e. does not die, id. ib. 12, 619.—
(b). With inf. or an obj.-clause: quoniam sentio errare (eum), Plaut. Men. 3, 2, 16: hoc vir excellenti providentiā sensit ac vidit, non esse, etc., Cic. Rep. 2, 3, 5: suspicionem populi sensit moveri, id. ib. 2, 31, 54: quod quid cogitent, me scire sentiunt, etc., id. Cat. 2, 3, 5 sq.: postquam nihil esse pericli Sensimus, Hor. S. 2, 8, 58: non nisi oppressae senserunt (civitates), etc., Just. 8, 1, 2.—
(g). With rel.- or interrog.-clause: scio ego et sentio ipse, quid agam, Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 13: jam dudum equidem sentio, suspicio Quae te sollicitet, id. Bacch. 4, 8, 49: quoniam sentio, Quae res gereretur, id. ib. 2, 3, 56: si quid est in me ingenii, quod sentio quam sit exiguum, Cic. Arch. 1, 1: ex quo fonte hauriam, sentio, id. ib. 6, 13: victrices catervae Sensere, quid mens rite, quid indoles ... Posset, Hor. C. 4, 4, 25.—With the indic., in a rel.clause: sentio, quam rem agitis, Plaut. Capt. 2, 1, 14.—
(d). With de: hostes postea quam de profectione eorum senserunt, became aware of their retreat, Caes. B. G. 5, 32; 7, 52.—(ε) With nom. of part. (poet.): sensit terrae sola maculans, Cat. 63, 6: sensit medios delapsus in hostis, Verg. A. 2, 377.—(ζ) Absol.: vehementer mihi est irata: sentio atque intellego, Plaut. Truc. 2, 6, 64; cf. id. Trin. 3, 2, 72; id. Mil. 2, 6, 97: mentes sapientium cum e corpore excessissent sentire ac vigere (opp. carere sensu), Cic. Sest. 21, 47; cf. id. Rep. 6, 24, 26: (Aristoteles) paeana probat eoque ait uti omnes, sed ipsos non sentire cum utantur, id. Or. 57, 193; cf. Quint. 9, 4, 52: priusquam hostes sentirent, Liv. 34, 14; 2, 25; 22, 4.— Impers. pass.: non ut dictum est, in eo genere intellegitur, sed ut sensum est, Cic. de Or. 3, 42, 168.—
B. To feel, experience (with acc. of the feeling; rare): quidquid est quod sensum habet, id necesse est sentiat et voluptatem et dolorem, Cic. N. D. 3, 14, 36: tenesne memoriā quantum senseris gaudium, cum, etc., Sen. Ep. 4, 2: non sentire amisso amico dolorem, id. ib. 99, 26; 121, 7: victoriae tantae gaudium sentire, Liv. 44, 44, 3; cf.: segnius homines bona quam mala sentire, id. 30, 21, 6.—
III. Transf. (in consequence of mental perception), to think, deem, judge, opine, imagine, suppose (syn.: opinor, arbitror): si ita sensit, ut loquitur, est homo impurus, Cic. Rep. 3, 21, 32; cf.: jocansne an ita sentiens, id. Ac. 2, 19, 63; id. Rep. 3, 5, 8: fleri potest, ut recte quis sentiat, et id quod sentit, polite eloqui non possit, id. Tusc. 1, 3, 6: humiliter demisseque sentire, id. ib. 5, 9, 24: tecum aperte, quod sentio, loquar, id. Rep. 1, 10, 15; cf.: quod sentio scribere, id. Fam. 15, 16, 3: causa est haec sola, in quā omnes sentirent unum atque idem, id. Cat. 4, 7, 14: idemque et unum sentire, Suet. Ner. 43: sapiens de dis immortalibus sine ullo metu vera sentit, Cic. Fin. 1, 19, 62.—With acc. and inf.: idem, quod ego, sentit, te esse huic rei caput, Ter. Ad. 4, 2, 29; cf.: nos quidem hoc sentimus: si, etc. ... non esse cunctandum, Cic. Fam. 1, 7, 5: voluptatem hanc esse sentiunt omnes, id. Fin. 2, 3, 6 Madv. ad loc.: sensit in omni disputatione id fieri oportere, id. ib. 2, 2, 4; 5, 8, 23; id. Tusc. 5, 28, 82; id. Att. 7, 6, 2; id. Fam. 1, 7, 5: sic decerno, sic sentio, sic affirmo, nullam rerum publicarum conferendam esse cum eā, quam, etc., id. Rep. 1, 46, 70.—With two acc. (very rare): aliquem bonum civem, Cic. Off. 1, 34, 125 (cf. id. Fin. 2, 3, 0, supra, where Orell. omits esse).—With de and abl.: cum de illo genere rei publicae quae sentio dixero, Cic. Rep. 1, 42, 65; so, quid de re publicā, id. ib. 1, 21, 34; 1, 38, 60: quid de quo, id. ib. 1, 11: quid gravius de vobis, Caes. B. C. 2, 32, 4; Cic. Rep. 1, 13, 19; cf.: qui omnia de re publicā praeclara atque egregia sentirent, were full of the most noble and generous sentiments, id. Cat. 3, 2, 5: mirabiliter de te et loquuntur et sentiunt, id. Fam. 4, 13, 5: male de illo, Quint. 2, 2, 12: sentire cum aliquo, to agree with one in opinion: tecum sentio, Plaut. Most. 3, 3, 24; id. Ps. 4, 2, 3: cum Caesare sentire, Cic. Att. 7, 1, 3; id. Rosc. Am. 49, 142; cf.: nae iste haud mecum sentit, Ter. And. 2, 1, 24: ab aliquo sentire, to dissent from, disagree with: abs te seorsum sentio, judge otherwise, think differently, Plaut. Capt. 3, 5, 52: ut abs te seorsus sentiam De uxoriā re, Afran. ap. Charis. p. 195 P.: Gr. Omnia istaec facile patior, dum hic hinc a me sentiat. Tr. Atqui nunc abs te stat, is on my side, Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 56 (cf. ab); cf. also: qui aliunde stet semper, aliunde sentiat, Liv. 24, 45, 3.—
B. In partic., publicists' and jurid. t. t., to give one's opinion concerning any thing; to vote, declare, decide (syn. censeo): sedens iis assensi, qui mihi lenissime sentire visi sunt, Cic. Fam. 5, 2, 9; 11, 21, 2; 3, 8, 9: quae vult Hortensius omnia dicat et sentiat, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 31, § 76: si judices pro causā meā senserint, decided in my favor, Gell. 5, 10, 14; cf.: in illam partem ite quā sentitis, Vet. Form. ap. Plin. Ep. 8, 14, 20.—Hence, sensa, ōrum, n. (acc. to II. B.).
1. Thoughts, notions, ideas, conceptions (class. but very rare): sententiam veteres, quod animo sensissent, vocaverunt ... Non raro tamen et sic locuti sunt, ut sensa sua dicerent: nam sensus corporis videbantur, etc., Quint. 8, 5, 1: exprimere dicendo sensa, Cic. de Or 1, 8, 32: sensa mentis et consilia verbis explicare, id. ib. 3, 14, 55.—
2. Opinions, doctrines (late Lat.): sensa et inventa Disarii, Macr. S. 7, 5, 4.

Origins

From Proto-Italic *sentiō, from Proto-Indo-European *sent- (“to feel”). The LIV suggests that the perfect form sēnsī might reflect a PIE sigmatic aorist *sḗnt-s-t ~ *sént-s-n̥t, though it is also possible that it is an innovative inner-Latin form. Cognate with Samogitian sintietė (“to think”), Old High German sinnan (“to go; desire”).

Elsewhere
  • Frenchsentirfrom Old French sentir
  • Englishscentfrom Old French sentir
  • Englishsensefrom Old French sentir
  • Englishsensatefrom Old French sentir
  • Sardiniansentire
  • Sardiniansentiri
  • Emiliansénter
  • Emiliansentîr
  • Franco-Provençalsentir
  • Franco-Provençalsientre
Eastern Romance
  • Romaniansimți
  • Romaniansimțire
  • Aromaniansimtu
  • Aromaniansãmtu
  • Aromaniansimtsiri
Old Occitan
  • Catalansentir
  • Occitansentir
West Iberian
  • Portuguesesentirfrom Old Galician-Portuguese sentir
  • Spanishsentirfrom Old Spanish sentir
  • Asturiansentir
  • Galiciansentirfrom Old Galician-Portuguese sentir
  • Ladinosintirfrom Old Spanish sentir
Italo-Dalmatian
  • Italiansentire
  • Dalmatiansenter
  • Neapolitansentire
  • Siciliansèntiri
Rhaeto-Romance
  • Friuliansintî
  • Romanshsentir
  • Romanshsantir
  • Romanshsanteir

Quick answers

What does sentiō mean in Latin?
sentiō, a verb, means “to feel, to sense, to perceive (with the senses); to perceive, be aware of, to be sensible of, to notice mentally, to understand (by using one's senses); to have an opinion or opine, to think, feel, judge, suppose”.
What are the principal parts of sentiō?
sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum (fourth conjugation).
How do you pronounce sentiō?
In classical Latin, [ˈsɛn.ti.oː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈsɛn.t͡si.o].