Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "opinion" come from? It comes from Latin opinio, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "opinion" come from? It comes from Latin opinio, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Opinion’s story begins in Latin: opinio meant “belief, supposition.” From 'opinari', to think. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as opinion. A view held. It reached English by 1200s as opinion. 'opinion poll' dates from the 1920s. Today, opinion means a view formed about something.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient opinio "belief, supposition", from 'opinari', to think.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval opinion "opinion", a view held.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s opinion "belief", 'opinion poll' dates from the 1920s.