Feelings or opinions, especially those based on emotion rather than reason. Often refers to attitudes, views, or emotional responses toward particular subjects or situations.
From French sentiment, from sentir 'to feel,' ultimately from Latin sentire 'to perceive, feel.' The word entered English in the 17th century during a period when French cultural influence was strong in England.
The Age of Sentiment in the 18th century elevated feelings and emotional responses as legitimate sources of knowledge and moral guidance, challenging pure rationalism. This cultural shift helped establish the novel as a literary form, as writers like Samuel Richardson explored the inner emotional lives of characters in unprecedented detail.
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