Etymologically
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opinio

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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

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