A quality sometimes found in writing that fails to communicate. Such writing calls for an extreme emotional response on the part of an audience, although its writer fails to supply adequate reason for any such reaction. A sentimental writer delights in waxing teary over certain objects: a great-grandmother's portrait, the first stick of chewing gum baby chewed (now a shapeless wad), an empty popcorn box saved from the World Series of 1952. Sentimental writing usually results when writers shut their eyes to the actual world, preferring to snuffle the sweet scents of rememberence.

sentimentality - The emotional promiscuity of those who lack sentiment.

Sen`ti*men*tal"i*ty (?), n. [CF. F. sentimentalit'e.]

The quality or state of being sentimental.

© Webster 1913.