sentimentality
UK[ˌsen.tɪ.menˈtæl.ə.ti]US[ˌsen.tə.menˈtæl.ə.t̬i]
n
The quality or state of being sentimental, especially in an excessive or self-indulgent way.
n
An excessively sentimental idea or expression.
Morpheme Breakdown
sentiment
al
ity
sentiment
feeling
al
adjective suffix
ity
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'sentimentality' is built upon the Latin verb sentire, meaning "to feel," which gave rise to sentimentum for a feeling or opinion. The adjective 'sentimental' was formed in the 18th century by adding the suffix '-al' to 'sentiment,' describing something characterized by tender or nostalgic feeling. The final abstraction into the noun 'sentimentality' employs the suffix '-ity,' which transforms the adjective into a quality or state. Thus, the term's literal progression is from the act of feeling, to being full of feeling, to the often excessive quality of such emotional display.
Analysis
Structure: sentiment (feeling) + al (adjective suffix) + ity (noun suffix)
- sentiment: From Latin sentimentum (feeling, opinion), from sentire (to feel). Functions as the core root noun.
- al: A Latin-derived suffix forming adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by".
- ity: A Latin-derived suffix (-itas) forming abstract nouns indicating a state, condition, or quality.
Examples
The film's ending was criticized for its cloying sentimentality.
He dismissed her tears as mere sentimentality.
Victorian literature is often noted for its sentimentality.