English
opportunity
Opportunity comes, probably, from Middle French opportunité, from Latin opportūnitās ‘convenience, fitness’; equivalent to opportune + -ity.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEopportūnitās‘convenience, fitness’uncertain
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600opportunitéuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1935opportunity
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEopportūnitās‘convenience, fitness’uncertain
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600opportunitéuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1935opportunity
Earliest quotation: 1935, letter: “The chairman of the committee will be very glad…”
Formed from opportune + -ity
Proto-Indo-European *per-
…
Proto-Italic *portus ‘harbour’
Latin portus ‘harbor, port’
Latin opportunus ‘favourable, opportune, convenient’
Old French opportun
English opportune
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *per-
first, before, far, per, price, private, press, further, practice, fear, pre, support, primary, report, prime, prior, appreciate, prize, pregnant, practical, afford, precious, praise, transport, interpretation, sport, privilege, importance, parade, par, forth, ferry, pirate, fare, pardon, export, prix, primitive, import, portable, 153 more
through Proto-Indo-European *pértus ‘crossing’
through Latin portus ‘harbor, port’
through Latin opportūnus ‘favourable, opportune, convenient’
Today it means
noun A chance for advancement, progress or profit.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin opportūnitās / opportunity