English
opportune
Opportune comes from Latin opportunus ‘favourable, opportune, convenient’, from portus ‘harbor, port’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pértus‘crossing’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*portus‘harbour’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEportus‘harbor, port’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEopportunus‘favourable, opportune, convenient’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400opportun
- Englishearliest quotation 2005opportune
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pértus‘crossing’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*portus‘harbour’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEportus‘harbor, port’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEopportunus‘favourable, opportune, convenient’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400opportun
- Englishearliest quotation 2005opportune
Earliest quotation: 2005, Michael Weinberger, A Message from Jakie: “I staggered to an opportune wall and continued to…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *per-
first, before, far, per, price, private, press, further, practice, fear, pre, primary, support, prime, report, prior, appreciate, prize, pregnant, practical, afford, precious, praise, transport, interpretation, privilege, parade, par, importance, sport, ferry, forth, pirate, fare, pardon, primitive, prix, export, import, interpreter, 154 more
through Proto-Indo-European *pértus ‘crossing’
through Latin portus ‘harbor, port’
Today it means
adj Suitable for some particular purpose.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *per- / opportune