Where does “opportunity” come from?
Opportunity is from English, ultimately from Latin opportunitas, combining ob and a root from Proto-Indo-European per- meaning to lead or pass through.
opportunity (English): A chance for advancement, progress or profit; A...
Definitions
- A chance for advancement, progress or profit; A...
Ancestry of “opportunity”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | opportune | Suitable for some particular purpose; At a... |
| 2 | Middle French | opportunité | — |
| 3 | Latin | opportūnitās | convenience, fitness |
| 4 | Latin | opportūnus | suitable |
| 5 | Latin | Portus | ” or, later, “Portus Rōmae”}} Portus large artificial harbour of Ancient Rome |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | portus | harbour |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pértus | crossing |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |