Sentiments are a little more specific and personal feelings. We invest in them rather emphatically. There is also some amount of shared beliefs which we expect others to respect. But sentimentality is a word that carries a heavy load of display of feelings which are generally not dependable. I agree with you that Tennessee Williams is using that word for nostalgia.

Sushama 

Sushama Karnik

It came to be devalued after Romantic poetry ceased to impress the readers. It is difficult indeed to define words which become labels over a time.

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Françoise Dhulesia

One French word, "sensiblerie", means oversensitivity, and is pejorative as it devaluates the amount of feelings felt or displayed.