Sĕn′ti-mĕnt′al, a.
a. [Fr. & Sp. sentimental, It. sentimentale.]
Sense 1. Having sentiment; abounding with sentiments or reflections; sententious; didactic.
Sense 2. Manifesting an excess of sentiment or sensibility; indulging the sensibilities for their own sake; artificially or affectedly tender; of mawkish feeling; — often in a reproachful sense.
The sentimental comedy still reigned, and Goldsmith’s comedies were not sentimental. Macaulay.
Synonyms— Romantic. — SENTIMENTAL, ROMANTIC. Sentimental usually describes an error or excess of the sensibilities; romantic, a vice of the imagination. The votary of the former gives indulgence to his sensibilities for the mere luxury of their excitement; the votary of the latter allows his imagination to rove for the pleasure of creating scenes of ideal enjoyment, and gazing on the creations which he has made. One who is sentimental is apt to be laughed at; one who is romantic not unfrequently falls into fatal errors. “Perhaps there is no less danger in works called sentimental. They attack the heart more successfully, because more cautiously.” Knox. “I can not but look on this as a mere romantic fancy of such who would be thought to be much wiser than they ever were or could be.” Stillingfleet.