The Spanish verb 'sentenciar' (to sentence or pass judgment) comes from the Spanish noun 'sentencia' (sentence, judgment) combined with the verbal suffix '-ar'. The noun 'sentencia' derives from Latin 'sententia' meaning 'opinion' or 'judgment', which in turn comes from the Latin verb 'sentire' meaning 'to feel' or 'perceive'. This etymology shows how the meaning evolved from physical sensation or perception to forming opinions and ultimately to making judicial decisions.

Some related and more common Spanish words include 'sentir' (to feel), which comes directly from the same Latin root 'sentire', and 'sentido' (sense, meaning), which shares the same etymological connection to perception and feeling. The connection between feeling/perceiving and making judgments is preserved across these related words.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'sentence', 'sentient', 'sentiment', and 'sense', all of which derive from the same Latin root 'sentire'. While 'sentence' in English can mean both a grammatical unit of words and a judicial decision (just like Spanish 'sentencia'), words like 'sentient' and 'sense' maintain the original meaning of perception and feeling from Latin 'sentire'.