'sentimentalist' originates from the word 'sentiment,' which comes from the Latin word 'sentire,' meaning 'to feel.'

'sentiment' evolved from the Old French word 'sentiment,' which was derived from the Latin 'sentimentum,' eventually leading to the modern English word 'sentimentalist.'

Initially, it meant 'a person who feels deeply,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person who is excessively prone to feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia.'