opinio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɔˈpiː.ni.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [oˈpiː.ni.o]^[1]

Forms

opīniō f (genitive opīniōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin opīnor (“to think, suppose”) + -iō.^[2][1][3] The origin of opīnor is unclear; de Vaan finds a proposed derivation from a noun *eino- “purpose” unsupported.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has “your affair is going better than you think”.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant what one thinks about something, an opinion or belief, and an expectation, especially in comparisons, as Plautus' “I'll be here sooner than you expect”.^[2] It meant the faculty of imagination, and the estimate one holds of a person, often a good one.^[2]

It also meant what others think of one, reputation, as in Cicero.^[2] Cicero says that among barbarians opinion often counts for more than the facts.^[6] Döderlein says opinio is a view resting on feeling, like Greek doxa, while sententia rests on clear conviction.^[7] In medieval Latin it meant fame and a learned doctrine.^[8][5] English opinion came through Old French in the early 14th century.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of belief and expectation.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of reputation.^[2][5]
• early 14th century – English opinion is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. An opinion, belief, supposition.^[2][1]
2. An expectation.^[2][1]
3. Imagination, fancy.^[2][1]
4. An estimate (of a person), esteem.^[2]
5. Reputation, good name.^[2][1]
6. Report, rumour.^[1]

Word family

• opīniōsus
• opīniuncula

Related words

• opīnābilis
• opīnātiō
• opīnātor
• opīnātus
• opīnor
• English opinion

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com