Skip to content

opine

verb

  1. express an opinion
L24754 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ə(ʊ)ˈpaɪn/ / /oʊˈpaɪn/ / /əʉˈpɑen/

noun

Etymology: Derived from Ancient Greek ὀπός (opós, “juice of a plant”) + -ine.

  1. Any of a class of organic compounds, derived from amino acids, found in some plant galls.

verb

Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French opiner, from Latin opīnor (“to hold as an opinion”), from *opīnus (“thinking, expecting”), only in negative nec-opīnus (“not expecting”) and in-opīnus (“not expected”); akin to optō (“to choose, desire”), and to apīscor (“to obtain”); see optate and opt.

  1. To express an opinion; to state as an opinion; to suppose, consider (that).

    I opined that matters would soon become considerably worse.

    "Your decisions," she opined, "have been unfailingly disastrous for this company."

  2. To give one's formal opinion (on or upon something).

    I had to opine on the situation because I thought a different perspective was in order.

  3. To suppose, consider as correct, or entertain, an opinion.

    Do you, Maister Francis, opine that ye will re-establish your father's credit by cutting your kinsman's thrapple, or getting your ain sneckit instead thereof in the College-yards of Glasgow?

    This, I opine, is a correct and fair statement of the case.