opportunus Latin · revision 6636

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la portus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɔp.pɔrˈtuː.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [op.porˈtuː.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''opportūnus''' (feminine opportūna, neuter opportūnum, comparative opportūnior, superlative opportūnissimus, adverb opportūnē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably from [[ob-|t=towards]] and [[portus]] “harbour” with a suffix -ūnus, originally a sailors' term for a wind blowing towards the harbour, as Festus reports; compare [[importūnus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of what serves a person's needs and of timely arrivals.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant serving one's needs, advantageous, convenient, as Cicero's ''tempus opportūnum'', which he equates with Greek ''eukairía'', and of places favourably situated, also strategically placed, as in Caesar.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant happening at the right moment, timely, opportune, as in Plautus, and of actions seasonable, as in Sallust.^(OLD 2012) It also meant available, ready to hand, as in Lucretius, and exposed or liable to dangers, as in Livy.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It survives in Italian ''opportuno'' and Spanish ''oportuno''.^(Wiktionary) [[en|opportune]] was borrowed about 1400, and [[en|opportunity]] comes from ''opportūnitās''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of timely help.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the right moment for action.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of strategic positions.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English ''opportune'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Advantageous, [[m|en|convenient]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of places)'' Favourably situated; strategic.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Timely, [[m|en|opportune]]; seasonable.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Ready to hand.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Exposed, liable (to dangers).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inopportūnus]]

+ * [[opportūnitās]]

+ * [[peropportūnus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[portus]]

+ * [[importūnus]]

+ * [[en|opportune]]

+ * [[en|opportunity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}