What is "dark sentence"

Sentence \Sen"tence\, n. [F., from L. sententia, for sentientia, from sentire to discern by the senses and the mind, to feel, to think. See Sense, n., and cf. Sentiensi.]

1. Sense; meaning; significance. [Obs.]

   Tales of best sentence and most solace.
   --Chaucer.

   The discourse itself, voluble enough, and full of sentence.
   --Milton.

2. 1. An opinion; a decision; a determination; a judgment, especially one of an unfavorable nature.

      My sentence is for open war.
      --Milton.

      That by them [Luther's works] we may pass sentence upon his doctrines.
      --Atterbury.

   2. A philosophical or theological opinion; a dogma; as, Summary of the Sentences; Book of the Sentences.

3. (Law) In civil and admiralty law, the judgment of a court pronounced in a cause; in criminal and ecclesiastical courts, a judgment passed on a criminal by a court or judge; condemnation pronounced by a judicial tribunal; doom. In common law, the term is exclusively used to denote the judgment in criminal cases.

   Received the sentence of the law.
   --Shak.

4. A short saying, usually containing moral instruction; a maxim; an axiom; a saw.
   --Broome.

5. (Gram.) A combination of words which is complete as expressing a thought, and in writing is marked at the close by a period, or full point. See Proposition, 4.

   Note: Sentences are simple or compound. A simple sentence consists of one subject and one finite verb; as, ``The Lord reigns.'' A compound sentence contains two or more subjects and finite verbs, as in this verse:

   He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals all.
   --Pope.

   Dark sentence, a saying not easily explained.

   A king . . . understanding dark sentences.
   --Dan. vii. 23.