opportune
Forms
opportūnē (comparative opportūnius, superlative opportūnissimē)[1]
Etymology
It is from Latin opportūnus (“favourable, convenient”) + -ē.[2][3] De Vaan lists opportūnus among the words related to portus (“harbour”), which he traces to Proto-Italic *portu- (“harbour”) and Proto-Indo-European *pr-tu- (“crossing, ford”).[4]
Earliest recorded meaning
The OLD's first citation is Plautus' Asinaria, where someone exclaims how timely and opportunely the money has been brought.[2] Köbler dates it from Terence.[3]
Semantic evolution
It means at a favourable moment, opportunely, as in Plautus, and so as to take advantage of an opportunity: Livy has the Veientes opportunely attacking a wavering line.[2] It also means in a manner that fits the case, suitably, as in Celsus on giving food after the fevers have passed,[2] and of geographical position, favourably: Livy has a hill jutting out conveniently to hide an ambush of cavalry.[2] Cicero uses it of something said at the right moment.[2] It is also spelled oport-.[2]
Timeline
- c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of money brought in time.[2]
- 190–159 BC – Terence.[3]
- 81–43 BC – Cicero of a remark made at the right moment.[2]
- 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of a hill hiding an ambush.[2]
- 14–37 AD – Celsus of giving food at the right time.[2]
Meanings
Adverb
- Suitably, conveniently;[2][1] (of position) favourably; seasonably.[2][1]
- At a favourable moment, opportunely; so as to take advantage of an opportunity.[2][1]
Related words
References
- ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill