English
optimum
Optimum comes from Latin optimus ‘best, very good’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEoptimus‘best, very good’
- Englishtodayoptimum
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEoptimus‘best, very good’
- Englishtodayoptimum
Linked words
through Latin ops ‘work’
office, official, copy, copious, opulent, officiate, opulence, officiant, officious, 10 more
Today it means
noun The best or most favorable condition, or the greatest amount or degree possible under specific sets of comparable circumstances.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin optimus / optimum