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sentinel

 - 4 dictionary results

sen⋅ti⋅nel

[sen-tn-l] noun, verb, -neled, -nel⋅ing or (especially British) -nelled, -nel⋅ling.
–noun
1. a person or thing that watches or stands as if watching.
2. a soldier stationed as a guard to challenge all comers and prevent a surprise attack: to stand sentinel.
3. Also called tag. Computers. a symbol, mark, or other labeling device indicating the beginning or end of a unit of information.
–verb (used with object)
4. to watch over or guard as a sentinel.

Origin:
1570–80; < MF sentinelle < It sentinella, deriv. of OIt sentina vigilance (L sent(īre) to observe) + -īna -ine 2 )


sen⋅ti⋅nel⋅like, adjective
sen⋅ti⋅nel⋅ship, noun


1, 2. sentry, guard, watch, lookout.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sentinel
sen·ti·nel   (sěn'tə-nəl)   
n.  One that keeps guard; a sentry.
tr.v.   sen·ti·neled or sen·ti·nelled, sen·ti·nel·ing or sen·ti·nel·ling, sen·ti·nels
  1. To watch over as a guard.

  2. To provide with a guard.

  3. To post as a guard.


[French sentinelle, from Italian sentinella, probably from Old Italian sentina, vigilance, from sentire, to watch, from Latin sentīre, to feel; see sent- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

sentinel 
1579, from M.Fr. sentinelle, from It. sentinella, perhaps (via a notion of "perceive, watch"), from sentire "to hear, perceive," from L. senire "feel" (see sense).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: sen·ti·nel
Pronunciation: 'sent-&n-&l
Function: adjective
: being an individual or part of a populationpotentially susceptible to an infection or infestation that is being monitored for the appearance or recurrence of the causative pathogen or parasite
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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