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opto

Etymology and origin of the Latin word opto

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Confidence
Probable
Formation
Inherited
First attested
Livius Andronicus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*h₁ep-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɔp.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔp.to][1]

Forms

optō (present infinitive optāre, perfect active optāvī, supine optātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is a frequentative from a participle *opto- of Proto-Italic *opeje- (“to choose, grab”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁op-eie- (“to choose, grab”), an iterative of Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep- (“to take, grab”).[2][1] Vine explains Umbrian upetu (“let him select”) from the same iterative.[2] Cognate with Hittite epp- (“to take, grab”).[2] A link with opīnor “to suppose” is difficult in meaning.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Livius Andronicus uses it.[2]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to wish for, desire or pray for, as Plautus' “may the gods give you whatever you wish”, and to choose or decide on, as Plautus' “choose which you want”.[3][4] Plautus has the old perfect subjunctive optāssis.[3] Döderlein counts it, with volō, among calm acts of will, against cupiō and aveō, acts of passion.[5]

Its noun optiō “choice” gave English option, and through French it gave opt.[6] Its compound adoptō “to choose for oneself” was used of adoption.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of wishing and choosing.[3][7]
  • c. 1600 – English option is recorded.[6]
  • 1877 – English opt is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To wish for, desire, pray for.[3][8]
  2. To choose, select, opt.[3][1]

Word family

  • adoptō
  • cooptō
  • deoptō
  • exoptō
  • inoptātus
  • optābilis
  • optātiō
  • optātīvus
  • optātum
  • optiō
  • optīvus
  • peroptātus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Opto.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/opto. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·