Sentience - The consciousness qua knowledge- that which never vanishes - that which does not get destroyed even in the state of dormant state.
Nāṇakkharaṃ 'kṣara saṃcaraṇe' na kṣamtītyakṣaram, na pracyavate anupayoge'pīhjarthaḥ... taṃ ca ṇāṇaṃ avisesato cetanetyarthaḥ.
(Nandī 55 Cū p.44)