opt English · revision 14983

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1877|origins=la optō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ɒpt/, US /ɑːpt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|opter|t=to choose]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|optō|t=to choose, desire]] (see [[option]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To choose or decide between alternatives: 1877 in the OED and Barnhart;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Merriam-Webster dates a sense to 1853.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ For its first few years it was used in English only in a French context.^(Etymonline) An earlier English word for the same idea was optate, from the 1610s.^(Etymonline) To opt out, to choose not to take part, is from 1922.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1610s – optate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1853 – opt (Merriam-Webster).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1877 – to choose.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1922 – opt out.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a choice; to decide in favour of something: ''she opted for the train''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To opt out: to choose not to take part.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[opt out]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[adopt]]

+ * [[co-opt]]

+ * [[optative]]

+ * [[option]]

+ * [[optional]]

+ * [[opinion]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}