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oral standard or rule; quality of an intention, a character, an action, a principle, or a sentiment, when tried by the standard of right. The morality of an action is founded in the freedom of that principle, by virtue of which it is in the agent's power, having all things ready and requisite to the performance of an a…

Soft like mush; figuratively, good-naturedly weak and effusive; weakly sentimental. She 's not mushy, but her heart is tender. G. Eliot.

Talk or writing which is weakly sentimental or affectedly pretty. Macaulay.

which has become by general acceptance the recognized musical expression of the patriotic sentiment of a nation; as, "God save the King" is called the national anthem of England. -- National bank, the official common name of a class of banking corporations established under the laws of the United States. -- National…

to make a nation of; to endow with the character and habits of a nation, or the peculiar sentiments and attachment of citizens of a nation.

Springing from true sentiment; not artifical or exaggerated; -- said of action, delivery, etc.; as, a natural gesture, tone, etc.

Possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength in sentiment or style; forcible; spirited; as, a nervous writer.

A sentiment; an opinion. The extravagant notion they entertain of themselves. Addison. A perverse will easily collects together a system of notions to justify itself in its obliquity. J. H. Newman.

which, brings up, rears, causes to grow, trains, fosters, or the like. The nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise. Burke.

be set to music or sung; a lyric poem; esp., now, a poem characterized by sustained noble sentiment and appropriate dignity of style. Hangs odes upon hawthorns and elegies on brambles. Shak. O! run; prevent them with thy humble ode, And lay it lowly at his blessed feet. Milton. Ode factor, one who makes, or who traffic…

The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation. I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people. Shak. Friendship . . . gives a man a peculiar right and claim to the good opinion of his friend. South. However, I have no opinion of those things. Bacon.

Repugnance; contrariety of sentiment, interest, or purpose; antipathy. Shak.

The first existence or beginning of anything; the birth. This mixed system of opinion and sentiment had its origin in the ancient chivalry. Burke.

A tenet or proposition contrary to received opinion; an assertion or sentiment seemingly contradictory, or opposed to common sense; that which in appearance or terms is absurd, but yet may be true in fact. A gloss there is to color that paradox, and make it appear in show not to be altogether unreasonable. Hooker. This…

ruction or meaning of clauses placed side by side, especially clauses expressing the same sentiment with slight modifications, as is common in Hebrew poetry; e. g.: -- At her feet he bowed, he fell: Where he bowed, there he fell down dead. Judg. v. 27.

A writing in which the language or sentiment of an author is mimicked; especially, a kind of literary pleasantry, in which what is written on one subject is altered, and applied to another by way of burlesque; travesty. The lively parody which he wrote . . . on Dryden's "Hind and Panther" was received with great applau…

er such conditions, becomes extremely sensitive or uncontrollably excited; any emotion or sentiment (specifically, love or anger) in a state of abnormal or controlling activity; an extreme or inordinate desire; also, the capacity or susceptibility of being so affected; as, to be in a passion; the passions of love, hate…

in liberal culture and refinement; one without appreciation of the nobler aspirations and sentiments of humanity; one whose scope is limited to selfish and material interests. [Recent] M. Arnold.

A sentiment to which assent is given by drinking one's health; a toast; a health. Dead pledge. Etym: [A translation of LL. mortuum vadium.] (Law) A mortgage. See Mortgage. -- Living pledge. Etym: [A translation of LL. vivum vadium.] (Law) The conveyance of an estate to another for money borrowed, to be held by him unt…

ng to poetry; suitable for poetry, or for writing poetry; as, poetic talent, theme, work, sentiments. Shak.