Sentimentality

  • 1Sentimentality — is both a literary device used to induce a tender emotional response disproportionate to the situation, [I. A. Richards gave just such a quantitative definition: a response is sentimental if it is too great for the occasion. He added, We cannot,… …

    Wikipedia

  • 2Sentimentality — Sen ti*men*tal i*ty, n. [CF. F. sentimentalit[ e].] The quality or state of being sentimental. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3sentimentality — index affection Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 4sentimentality — 1770, from SENTIMENTAL (Cf. sentimental) + ITY (Cf. ity) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5sentimentality — [sen΄tə men tal′ə tē] n. 1. the quality or condition of being sentimental, esp. in a superficial or maudlin way 2. pl. sentimentalities any expression of this …

    English World dictionary

  • 6sentimentality — n. 1) maudlin, mawkish sentimentality 2) sentimentality about * * * [ˌsentɪmən tælɪtɪ] mawkish sentimentality maudlin sentimentality about …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 7sentimentality — sen|ti|men|tal|i|ty [ ,sentımen tæləti ] noun uncount the expression of feelings of sadness, sympathy, love, etc. in a way that is inappropriate or obvious: Joanna played the piece beautifully, without a hint of sentimentality …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 8sentimentality — sentimental ► ADJECTIVE 1) deriving from or prone to feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia. 2) having or arousing such feelings in an exaggerated and self indulgent way. ● sentimental value Cf. ↑sentimental value DERIVATIVES… …

    English terms dictionary

  • 9sentimentality — noun (plural ties) Date: 1770 1. the quality or state of being sentimental especially to excess or in affectation 2. a sentimental idea or its expression …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 10sentimentality — /sen teuh men tal i tee/, n., pl. sentimentalities. 1. the quality or state of being sentimental or excessively sentimental. 2. an instance of being sentimental. 3. a sentimental act, gesture, expression, etc. [1760 70; SENTIMENTAL + ITY] Syn.… …

    Universalium