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Webster 1913 Edition


Opinion

O-pin′ion

,
Noun.
[F., from L.
opinio
. See
Opine
.]
1.
That which is opined; a notion or conviction founded on probable evidence; belief stronger than impression, less strong than positive knowledge; settled judgment in regard to any point of knowledge or action.
Opinion
is when the assent of the understanding is so far gained by evidence of probability, that it rather inclines to one persuasion than to another, yet not without a mixture of incertainty or doubting.
Sir M. Hale.
I can not put off my
opinion
so easily.
Shakespeare
2.
The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.
I have bought golden
opinions
from all sorts of people.
Shakespeare
Friendship . . . gives a man a peculiar right and claim to the good
opinion
of his friend.
South.
However, I have no
opinion
of those things.
Bacon.
3.
Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.
[Obs.]
Thou hast redeemed thy lost
opinion
.
Shakespeare
This gained Agricola much
opinion
, who . . . had made such early progress into laborious . . . enterprises.
Milton.
4.
Obstinacy in holding to one’s belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.
[Obs.]
Shak.
5.
(Law.)
The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a counselor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.
To be of opinion
,
to think; to judge.
To hold opinion with
,
to agree with.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Syn. – Sentiment; notion; persuasion; idea; view; estimation. See
Sentiment
.

O-pin′ion

,
Verb.
T.
To opine.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Opinion

OPINION

,
Noun.
opin'yon. [L. opinio, from opinor, to thing, Gr., L. suppono.]
1.
The judgment which the mind forms of any proposition, statement, theory or event, the truth or falsehood of which is supported by a degree of evidence that renders it probably, but does not produce absolute knowledge or certainty. It has been a received opinion that all matter is comprised in four elements. This opinion is proved by many discoveries to be false. From circumstances we form opinions respecting future events.
Opinion is when the assent of the understanding is so far gained by evidence of probability, that it rather inclines to one persuasion than to another, yet not without a mixture of uncertainty or doubting.
2.
The judgment or sentiments which the mind forms of persons or their qualities. We speak of a good opinion, a favorable opinion, a bad opinion, a private opinion, and public or general opinion, &c.
Friendship gives a man a peculiar right and claim to the good opinion of his friend.
3.
Settled judgment or persuasion; as religious opinions; political opinion.
4.
Favorable judgment; estimation.
In actions of arms, small matters are of great moment, especially when they serve to raise an opinion of commanders.
However, I have no opinion of these things -

Definition 2024


opinion

opinion

See also: opinión

English

Noun

opinion (plural opinions)

  1. A belief that a person has formed about a topic or issue.
    I would like to know your opinions on the new systems.
    In my opinion, white chocolate is better than milk chocolate.
    Every man is a fool in some man's opinion.
    Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived. - Oscar Wilde
  2. The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.
    • 1606, William Shakespeare, Macbeth, I. vii. 32:
      I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people.
    • South
      Friendship [] gives a man a peculiar right and claim to the good opinion of his friend.
  3. (obsolete) Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.
    • 1597, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 1, V. iv. 47:
      Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion.
    • Milton
      This gained Agricola much opinion, who [] had made such early progress into laborious [] enterprises.
  4. (obsolete) Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.
    • 1590, William Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost, V. i. 5:
      Your reasons at / dinner have been sharp and sententious, pleasant / without scurrility, witty without affection, audacious / without impudency, learned without opinion, and / strange without heresy.
  5. The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a doctor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.
  6. (European Union law) a judicial opinion delivered by an Advocate General to the European Court of Justice where he or she proposes a legal solution to the cases for which the court is responsible

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Verb

opinion (third-person singular simple present opinions, present participle opinioning, simple past and past participle opinioned)

  1. (transitive, archaic) To have or express as an opinion.
    • 1658, But if (as some opinion) King Ahasuerus were Artaxerxes Mnemon [...], our magnified Cyrus was his second Brother — Sir Thomas Browne, The Graden of Cyrus (Folio Society 2007, p. 166)

Translations

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: wind · drew · strength · #596: opinion · according · walked · office

Esperanto

Noun

opinion sg

  1. accusative singular of opinio

French

Etymology

From Middle French opinion, from Latin opīniō.

Pronunciation

Noun

opinion f (plural opinions)

  1. opinion (thought, estimation)

Middle French

Etymology

From Latin opīniō.

Noun

opinion f (plural opinions)

  1. opinion (thought, estimation)

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin opinio, via French opinion

Noun

opinion m (definite singular opinionen, indefinite plural opinioner, definite plural opinionene)

  1. (public) opinion

Derived terms

References


Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin opinio, via French opinion

Noun

opinion m (definite singular opinionen, indefinite plural opinionar, definite plural opinionane)

  1. (public) opinion

Derived terms

References