Etymologically
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opportunitas

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɔp.pɔrˈtuː.nɪ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [op.porˈtuː.ni.tas][1]

Forms

opportūnitās f (genitive opportūnitātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin opportunus (“fit, convenient”) + -tās.[2][1][3] Etymonline derives opportūnus from the phrase ob portum veniēns (“coming toward a port”), said of the wind, from ob and portus “harbour”.[4] A variant spelling is oportūnitās.[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus, in the Epidicus, says “I see you both come at the best moment”.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It was the quality of serving one's needs, advantage, convenience, and especially a favourable position, as of a province or of places for camps in Caesar.[2][5] It was also a favouring circumstance, and Cicero says friendship has so many advantages he can hardly tell them.[2] It meant the right timing of an event, then an opportunity or chance, as in Sallust, and the ability to seize chances, as in Caesar.[2] Döderlein distinguishes occāsiō, a chance to undertake something in general, from opportūnitās, a chance with special convenience.[7]

In medieval Latin it kept the sense of convenience or suitability.[8] English opportunity is recorded in the late 14th century as a fit time.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of good timing.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of the advantages of friendship.[2][6]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of opportunities.[2][6]
  • late 14th century – English opportunity is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Fitness, convenience; a favourable position.[2][9]
  2. An advantage.[2][1]
  3. Good timing; an opportunity, chance.[2][1]
  4. Readiness to seize chances.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  9. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press