Etymology dictionary
oozy (adj.) — optional (adj.)
oozy (adj.)
Old English wosig "juicy, moist;" see ooze (v.) + -y (2). Original sense now obsolete; meaning "containing or resembling fine soft mud; having the consistency of wet mud or slime" is from 1560s. Related: Ooziness.
op-ed (adj.)
by 1931, in reference to the page of a newspaper opposite the editorial page, usually devoted to personal opinion columns and criticism. The thing itself dates to 1921 at the New York "World" and was the brainchild of editor Herbert Bayard Swope, whose op-ed pages launched the celebrity of many of the Algonquin Round Table writers.
op-
assimilated form of ob- before -p-.
ope (adj.)
short for open (adj.), early 13c. "not closed; not hidden;" originally as awake is from awaken, etc. As a verb, "to open," from mid-15c.; now obsolete or archaic. Middle English had ope-head "bare-headed" (c. 1300).
*op-
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to work, produce in abundance."
It forms all or part of: cooperate; cooperation; copious; copy; cornucopia; hors d'oeuvre; inure; maneuver; manure; oeuvre; office; official; officinal; omni-; omnibus; omnium gatherum; op. cit.; opera; operate; operation; operose; optimism; optimum; opulence; opulent; opus; Oscan.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit apas- "work, religious act," apnas- "possession, property;" Hittite happina- "rich;" Avestan huapah- "doing good work, masterly;" Latin opus "a work, labor, exertion;" Greek ompne "food, corn;" Old High German uoben "to start work, to practice, to honor;" German üben "to exercise, practice;" Dutch oefenen, Old Norse æfa, Danish øve "to exercise, practice;" Old English æfnan "to perform, work, do," afol "power."
opacity (n.)
1550s, "darkness of meaning, obscurity," from French opacité, from Latin opacitatem (nominative opacitas) "shade, shadiness," from opacus "shaded, dark, opaque," a word of unknown origin. The literal sense "condition of being impervious to light; quality of a body which renders it impervious to rays of light" in English is recorded from 1630s.
opafication (n.)
1852, from French opafication; see opacity + -fication "a making or causing."
opal (n.)
"mineral like quartz but without crystalline structure," 1590s, from French opalle (16c.) and directly from Late Latin opalus (Pliny), supposedly from Greek opallios, which is possibly ultimately from Sanskrit upala-s "gem, precious stone." Used in Middle English in Latin form (late 14c.). Related: Opaline.
opalescent (adj.)
"having variegated and changing colors like those of an opal," 1810, from opal + -escent. Perhaps via French opalescent.
opalescence (n.)
"iridescence like that of an opal, a play of colors milky rather than brilliant," 1792; see opalescent + -ence. Perhaps via French opalescence.
opaque (adj.)
early 15c., opake, "dark, shaded, unlit" (a sense now obsolete), from Latin opacus "shaded, in the shade, shady, dark, darkened, obscure," of unknown origin. Spelling influenced after c. 1650 by French opaque (c. 1500), from the Latin. Meaning "impervious to the rays of light" is from 1640s. Figurative sense of "obscure, hard to understand" is from 1761. Related: Opaquely; opaqueness.
op. cit.
abbreviation of Latin opus citatum "the work quoted;" see opus; citatum is neuter singular past participial of citare "to call, call forward, summon" (see cite).
OPEC
initialism (acronym) for Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries, founded 1960.
opening (n.)
Old English openung "act of making open" (a door, mouth, etc.), "disclosure, manifestation," verbal noun from present participle of open (v.). Meaning "vacant space, hole, aperture, doorway" is attested from c. 1200. Meaning "act of opening (a place, to the public)" is from late 14c. Sense of "opportunity, chance" is from 1793. Sense of "action of beginning (something)" is from 1712; meaning "first performance of a play" is 1855; that of "start of an art exhibit" is from 1905. Opening night is attested from 1814.
opener (n.)
"one who or that which opens," Old English openere, agent noun from open (v.). As "a tool or machine used in opening," c. 1600.
open (n.)
early 13c., "an aperture or opening," from open (adj.). Sense of "an open or clear space" is by 1796. The open "open country" is from 1620s; as "open air" from 1875. Meaning "public knowledge" (especially in out in the open) is from 1942, but compare Middle English in open (late 14c.) "manifestly, publicly." The sense of "an open competition" is from 1926, originally in a golf context.
openness (n.)
"state or property of being open," Old English opennes; see open (adj.) + -ness.
open (adj.)
Old English open "not closed down, raised up" (of gates, eyelids, etc.), also "exposed, evident, well-known, public," often in a bad sense, "notorious, shameless;" from Proto-Germanic *upana-, literally "put or set up" (source also of Old Norse opinn, Swedish öppen, Danish aaben, Old Saxon opan, Old Frisian epen, Old High German offan, German offen "open"), from PIE root *upo "under," also "up from under," hence also "over." Related to up, and throughout Germanic the word has the appearance of a past participle of *up (v.), but no such verb has been found. The source of words for "open" in many Indo-European languages seems to be an opposite of the word for "closed, shut" (such as Gothic uslukan).
Of physical spaces, "unobstructed, unencumbered," c. 1200; of rooms with unclosed entrances, c. 1300; of wounds, late 14c. Transferred sense of "frank, candid" is attested from early 14c. Of shops, etc., "available for business," it dates from 1824.
Open-door in reference to international trading policies is attested from 1856. Open season is recorded by 1895 of game; figuratively (of persons) by 1914. Open book in the figurative sense of "person easy to understand" is from 1853. Open house "hospitality for all visitors" is first recorded 1824. Open-and-shut "simple, straightforward" first recorded 1841 in New Orleans. Open-faced, of sandwiches, etc., "without an upper layer of bread, etc.," by 1934. Open marriage, one in which the partners sleep with whomever they please, is by 1972. Open road (1817, American English) originally meant a public one; romanticized sense of "traveling as an expression of personal freedom" first recorded 1856, in Whitman.
open (v.)
Old English openian "to open, open up, cause to open, disclose, reveal," also intransitive, "become manifest, be open to or exposed to," from Proto-Germanic *opanojan (source also of Old Saxon opanon, Old Norse opna "to open," Middle Dutch, Dutch openen, Old High German offanon, German öffnen), from the source of open (adj.), but etymology suggests the adjective is older. Transitive sense of "set in action, begin, commence" is from 1690s. Open up (intrans.) in the figurative sense "cease to be secretive" is from 1921. Related: Opened; opening.
open-air (adj.)
"outdoor, in the open air," 1520s, from open (adj.) + air (n.1).
open-ended (adj.)
"having no predetermined limit or boundary," 1825, from open (adj.) + end (n.).
open-handed (adj.)
"liberal, generous," c. 1600, from open (adj.) + -handed. Related: Open-handedly; open-handedness.
openly (adv.)
"in an open manner, without secrecy," Old English openlice "manifestly, plainly, clearly, unreservedly;" see open (adj.) + -ly (2). It corresponds to Old Saxon opanlico, Old Frisian epplik, Dutch openlijk, Old High German offanliho, German öffentlich.
open-minded (adj.)
also openminded, "having an unreserved mind; frank, candid," also "having a mind accessible to new views, not narrow-minded, unprejudiced," 1828, first recorded in Carlyle; from open (adj.) + -minded. Figurative use of open (adj.) with reference to hearts, hands, etc. is from early 15c. Related: Open-mindedly; open-mindedness.
operant (adj.)
"that works, working, engaged in action," early 15c., from Latin operantem (nominative operans), present participle of operari "to work, labor" (in Late Latin "to have effect, be active, cause"), from opera "work, effort," related to opus (genitive operis) "a work" (from PIE root *op- "to work, produce in abundance"). Psychological sense of "involving behavior modification" coined 1937 by U.S. psychologist B.F. Skinner (as in operant conditioning, 1938, Skinner).
operator (n.)
1590s, "one who performs mechanical or surgical operations," agent noun from operate (v.) or from Late Latin operator "a worker." Meaning "one who carries on business shrewdly" is from 1828. Specific sense of "one who works a telephone switchboard" (1884) grew out of earlier meaning "one who works a telegraph" (1847).
operative (adj.)
late 15c., operatif, "active, working," from Old French operatif (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin operativus "creative, formative," from operat-, past-participle stem of operari (see operation). Meaning "producing the intended effect" is from 1590s.
operable (adj.)
1640s, "practicable," from operate + -able, or else from Late Latin operabilis. Surgical sense, "capable of treatment by operation," recorded by 1904. Related: Operability.
operative (n.)
1809, "worker, operator, artisan," from operative (adj.); sense of "secret agent, spy" is attested from 1930, probably from its use by the Pinkerton Detective Agency as a title for their private detectives (1905) to avoid the term detective.
operate (v.)
c. 1600, "to be in effect, perform or be at work, exert force or influence," a back-formation from operation (q.v.), or else from Latin operatus, past participle of operari "to work, labor, toil, take pains" (in Late Latin "to have effect, be active, cause"). The surgical sense of "perform some manual act upon the body of a patient," usually with instruments, is attested from 1799. Meaning "to work machinery" is from 1864 in American English. Related: Operated; operating. Operating system in the computer sense is from 1961.
operation (n.)
late 14c., "action, performance, work," also "the performance of some science or art," from Old French operacion "operation, working, proceedings," from Latin operationem (nominative operatio) "a working, operation," noun of action from past-participle stem of operari "to work, labor" (in Late Latin "to have effect, be active, cause"), from opera "work, effort," related to opus (genitive operis) "a work" (from PIE root *op- "to work, produce in abundance").
The surgical sense of "act or series of acts performed upon a patient's body," usually with instruments, is first attested 1590s. The military sense of "act of carrying out a preconcerted series of movements" is by 1749.
operational (adj.)
1922, "pertaining to operation," from operation + -al (1). Meaning "in a state of functionality" is from 1944.
opera (n.)
"a drama sung" [Klein], "a form of extended dramatic composition in which music is essential and predominant," 1640s, from Italian opera, literally "a work, labor, composition," from Latin opera "work, effort" (Latin plural regarded as feminine singular), secondary (abstract) noun from operari "to work," from opus (genitive operis) "a work" (from PIE root *op- "to work, produce in abundance"). Explained in "Elson's Music Dictionary" as, "a form of musical composition evolved shortly before 1600, by some enthusiastic Florentine amateurs who sought to bring back the Greek plays to the modern stage."
As a branch of dramatic art, it is attested from 1759. First record of opera glass "small binoculars to aid vision at the theater" is from 1738. Opera-house, "theater devoted chiefly to opera performances," is from 1720.
operand (n.)
in mathematics, "a quantity or symbol to be operated on," 1886, from Latin operandum, neuter gerundive of operari "to work, labor" (in Late Latin "to have effect, be active, cause"), from opera "work, effort," related to opus (genitive operis) "a work" (from PIE root *op- "to work, produce in abundance").
operatic (adj.)
"pertaining to, designed for, or resembling opera," 1749, from opera on model of dramatic.
operationalize (v.)
1954, in psychology, "express in operational terms," from operational + -ize. Related: Operationalized; operationalizing; operationalization (1966).
operculum (n.)
"a lid or cover; an organic structure like a lid, flap, or cover," 1713, from Latin operculum "cover, lid," from operire "to cover, close," from PIE compound *op-wer-yo-, from *op- "over" (see epi-) + root *wer- (4) "to cover." With instrumental suffix *-tlom. Related: Opercular.
operetta (n.)
"a short opera, generally of a light character," 1770, opperata, from Italian operetta, diminutive of opera (see opera).
operose (adj.)
"laborious, tedious, involving much labor," 1670s, from Latin operosus "taking great pains, laborious, active, industrious," from opus (genitive operis) "work" (from PIE root *op- "to work, produce in abundance"). Related: Operosely; operoseness; operosity (1620s).
Ophelia
fem. proper name, from Greek opheleia "help, aid," from ophelein "to help, aid, assist," ophelos "advantage, help," from PIE root *obhel- "to avail" (source also of Armenian avelum "increase, abound").
ophidian (adj.)
1883, "having the nature or character of snakes or serpents," from Greek ophidion, diminutive of ophis "serpent" (see ophio-). Earlier in zoology, "belonging to the order Ophidia" (comprising snakes, serpents), 1819. As a noun, "reptile of the order Ophidia," from 1819.
ophidiophobia (n.)
1914, "excessive fear of snakes or reptiles," from ophidio- apparently extracted from Modern Latin ophidia, a word coined arbitrarily (to provide an -ia form to serve as an order name in taxonomy) from Greek ophis "serpent" (see ophio-) + -phobia.
ophio-
before vowels ophi-, word-forming element meaning "a snake, serpent," from Greek ophio-, combining form of ophis "serpent, a snake," probably from PIE *egwhi- (source also of Sanskrit ahi-, Avestan aži- "snake," and perhaps the first element of a Germanic word for "lizard," i.e. Old High German egi-dehsa). Hence ophiolatry "serpent-worship" (1862), and the 2c. sect of the Ophitæ, who revered the serpent as the symbol of divine wisdom.
ophiomancy (n.)
"the ancient art of divination by the movements and coilings of snakes, 1753, from ophio- "snake, serpent" + -mancy "divination by means of." Related: Ophiomantic; ophiomancer.
ophiophagous (adj.)
"serpent-eating," 1640s; see ophio- "serpent, snake" + -phagous "eating, feeding on."
Ophir
name of a place mentioned in Old Testament as a source for fine gold; location still unknown. Hence Ophir-gold (1610s).
Ophiuchus
ancient constellation (representing Aesculapius), 1650s, from Latin, from Greek ophioukhos, literally "holding a serpent," from ophis "serpent" (see ophio-) + stem of ekhein "to hold, have, keep" (from PIE root *segh- "to hold").
Translated in Latin as Anguitenens and Serpentarius. Milton's "Ophiuchus huge in th' Arctick Sky" ("Paradise Lost") is a rare (minor) lapse for a poet who generally knew his astronomy; the constellation actually straddles the celestial equator, and, as its modern boundaries are drawn, dips into the zodiac: The sun passes through Ophiuchus from about Nov. 30 to Dec. 18. The serpent now is treated as a separate constellation.
ophthalmic (adj.)
c. 1600, "pertaining to or of use in treating ophthalmia;" by 1732 as "pertaining to the eye or eyeball;" from Latin ophthalmicus, from Greek ophthalmikos "of or for the eyes," from ophthalmos "eye" (see ophthalmo-). Middle English had obtalmik "caused by ophthalmia" (early 15c.).
ophthalmia (n.)
"inflammation of the eye, conjunctivitis," late 14c., obtalmia, from Medieval Latin obtalmia and Old French obtalmie, ultimately from Greek ophthalmia, from ophthalmos (see ophthalmo-) + -ia. The corrected spelling is attested from late 16c.
ophthalmo-
before vowels ophthalm-, word-forming element meaning "eye," mostly in plural, "the eyes," from Greek ophthalmos "eye," originally "the seeing," a word of uncertain origin. Perhaps from ōps "eye" (from PIE root *okw- "to see") + a form related to thalamos "inner room, chamber" (see thalamus), giving the whole a sense of "eye and eye socket," but Beekes rejects all this and finds it to be probably Pre-Greek.
ophthalmology (n.)
"the medical science of the eye and its functions and diseases," 1822; see ophthalmo- + -logy. Related: Ophthalmological.
ophthalmologist (n.)
"one versed in ophthalmology," 1825; see ophthalmology + -ist.
ophthalmoscope (n.)
"instrument for viewing the interior of the eye," especially the retina, 1857 in English; coined 1852 by German physician and physicist Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz; see ophthalmo- + -scope.
opiate (n.)
"medicine containing opium," early 15c., from Medieval Latin opiatus, from Latin opium (see opium). Figurative sense of "anything that dulls the feelings and induces rest or inaction" is from 1640s. From 1540s in English as an adjective, "made with or containing opium," hence "inducing sleep, narcotic."
opine (v.)
mid-15c., opinen, "express an opinion or opinions; to think, suppose," also transitive, "be of the opinion that," from Old French oppiner, opiner (15c.) and directly from Latin opinari "have an opinion, be of opinion, suppose, conjecture, think, judge," which is of unknown origin. It is traditionally considered to be related to optare "to desire, choose" (see option), but de Vaan's sources find the evidence of this weak. Related: Opined; opining.
opiniated (adj.)
"obstinately attached to one's opinion," 1590s, past-participle adjective from opiniate (1620s) "maintain dogmatically or obstinately" (from Latin opinio "opinion"), a verb once used where now we use opine. Also see opinionated.
opiniaster (n.)
"one obstinate in asserting or adhering to his own opinions," c. 1600, from French opiniastre, from Latin opinio "opinion, conjecture" (see opinion) + deprecatory suffix (see -aster). Another word in a similar sense was opinator "opinionated person" (1620s), from Latin opinator "one who supposes or conjectures." Also opiniator (1520s).
opinion (n.)
early 14c., opinioun, "a judgment formed or a conclusion reached, especially one based on evidence that does not produce knowledge or certainty," from Old French opinion "opinion, view, judgements founded upon probabilities" (12c.), from Latin opinionem (nominative opinio) "opinion, conjecture, fancy, belief, what one thinks; appreciation, esteem," from stem of opinari "think, judge, suppose, opine," from PIE *op- (2) "to choose" (see option).
The word always has tended toward "a judgment or view regarded as influenced more by sentiment or feeling than reason." The meaning "formal statement by a judge or other professional" is from late 15c. The specific sense of "the estimate one forms of the character or qualities of persons or things" is by c. 1500. Public opinion, "the prevailing view in a given community on any matter of general interest or concern," is by 1735.
Middle English, perhaps reflecting the era's concern for obtaining knowledge through learned disputation, had opinional "characterized by likelihood rather than certainty" and opinial "based on probable but not certain evidence" (both mid-15c.).
opinionate (v.)
"to hold an opinion," c. 1600, from opinion + -ate (2); now surviving mostly in its past-participle adjective opinionated.
opinionated (adj.)
c. 1600, "stiff in adhering to preconceived notions," past-participle adjective from opinionate. Now seemingly with more a sense of "obstinate in asserting one's opinions." Earlier words included opinioned (1580s) "attached to particular opinions;" opiniated (1590s); opinative (early 15c.) "founded only on personal opinion" (from Old French and Medieval Latin). Related: Opinonatedness.
opioid (n.)
1957, from opium + -oid. Originally not clearly distinguished from opiate, but now generally "chemical product that works the same as an opiate but does not occur naturally."
opisthography (n.)
"the practice of writing on the back of anything," 1715, from Greek opisthographos "written on the back," from graphos "writing" (from graphein"to write" (see -graphy) + opisthen "behind, from behind, at the back," from opi, a variant of epi "on it, at it" (see epi-).
opium (n.)
"inspissated juice of the poppy plant," especially as used in medicine from 17c. for relief of pain and production of sleep, late 14c., from Latin opium, from Greek opion "poppy juice, poppy," diminutive of opos "vegetable juice, plant juice, fig curd," from PIE *sokwo- "juice, resin" (source also of Old Church Slavonic soki "juice," Lithuanian sakaī (plural) "resin").
The British Opium War against China lasted from 1839-42; the name is attested from 1841. Opium-eater, one who habitually uses opium in some form, is by 1821.
opossum (n.)
nocturnal, omnivorous American marsupial mammal, c. 1600, from Powhatan (Algonquian) opassum, "equivalent to a proto-Algonquian term meaning 'white dog'" [Bright]. The colloquial form is possum (q.v.).
opponent (n.)
"one who opposes, an adversary, an antagonist," 1580s, from noun use of Latin opponentem (nominative opponens), present participle of opponere "oppose, object to," literally "set against, set opposite," from assimilated form of ob "in front of, in the way of" (see ob-) + ponere "to put, set, place" (see position (n.)). Originally "one who maintains a contrary argument in a disputation;" the general sense is by 1610s.
opportune (adj.)
"seasonable, timely, convenient," c. 1400, from Old French opportune and directly from Latin opportunus "fit, convenient, suitable, favorable," from the phrase ob portum veniens "coming toward a port," in reference to the wind, from ob "in front of; toward" (see ob-) + portus "harbor" (see port (n.1)). Related: Opportunely; opportuneness.
opportunity (n.)
late 14c., opportunitie, "fit, convenient, or seasonable time," from Old French opportunite (13c.) and directly from Latin opportunitatem (nominative opportunitas) "fitness, convenience, suitableness, favorable time," from opportunus "fit, convenient, suitable, favorable," from the phrase ob portum veniens "coming toward a port," in reference to the wind, from ob "in front of; toward" (see ob-) + portus "harbor" (see port (n.1)).
Opportunity cost is attested from 1911. The expression opportunity knocks but once (at any man's door) is attested from 1898.
opportunism (n.)
"policy of adopting actions to circumstances while holding goals unchanged," 1870, originally a word in continental politics; see opportune + -ism. Compare opportunist. Later, in the jargon of socialism and communism, "policy of concession to bourgeois society in the course of developing socialism."
opportunist (n.)
1881, from opportunism (q.v.) + -ist. A word in Italian politics, later in France opportuniste was applied derisively to the moderate Léon Gambetta (1876), leader of the party between the monarchists and the extreme republicans. In English the word was used generally of anyone whose policy or tendency is to seek to profit from the prevailing circumstances or take advantage of opportunities as they occur.
opportunistic (adj.)
"of, pertaining to, or characteristic of opportunists," originally especially in politics, 1889; see opportunist + -ic. Related: Opportunistically.
oppose (v.)
late 14c., opposen, "to speak or act against; accuse, question, interrogate," from Old French oposer "oppose, resist, rival; contradict, state opposing point of view" (12c.), apparently from assimilated form of Latin ob- "in the direction of, in front of" (see ob-) + French poser "to place, lay down" (see pose (v.1)), with the sense blended with that of Latin opponere "oppose, object to, set against" (see opponent). The meaning "to set or place over against or directly opposite" (transitive) and "interpose effort or objection, be adverse, act adversely" (intransitive) are from 1590s. Related: Opposed; opposing.
opposable (adj.)
1660s, "capable of being withstood," from oppose + -able. In reference to the thumbs of humans and certain other animals, "capable of being so placed as to be in opposition," by 1819. Related: Opposability.
opposition (n.)
late 14c., opposicioun, an astrological term for the situation of two heavenly bodies exactly across from one another in the heavens, from Old French oposicion (12c.) and directly from Latin oppositionem (nominative oppositio) "act of opposing, a placing against," noun of action from past-participle stem of opponere "set against," from assimilated form of ob "in front of, in the way of" (see ob-) + ponere "to put, set, place" (see position (n.)).
General sense of "the position of that which faces or confronts something else" is from c. 1400. The meaning "that which is opposite something else" is from 1540s; meaning "act of resisting, antagonism" is attested from 1580s; sense of "
body of opposers," especially "the political party opposed to the one in power" is from 1704.
opposite (adj.)
late 14c., "placed or situated on the other side of (something)," from Old French opposite, oposite "opposite, contrary" (13c.), from Latin oppositus "standing against, opposed, opposite," past participle of opponere "set against," from assimilated form of ob "in front of, in the way of" (see ob-) + ponere "to put, set, place" (see position (n.)).
The meaning "contrary in character, of a totally different nature" is from 1570s. As a noun from late 14c., "the opposite side of" (a place, the body, etc.), "an opposite position or condition." From early 15c. as "that which is opposite in character or quality;" also "an opponent." As a preposition from 1758. As an adverb from 1817. Related: Oppositely.
oppositional (adj.)
"of or pertaining to opposition," 1680s, from opposition + -al (1). Originally in the astronomical sense of opposition; the general sense of "having the character of hostile action" is from 1829.
oppress (v.)
late 14c., oppressen, "to press unduly upon or against, overburden, weigh down," also figuratively, "overwhelm overpower" (of sickness, grief, etc.); also "burden with cruel, unjust, or unreasonable restraints, treat with injustice or undue severity, keep down by an unjust exercise of power," from Old French opresser "oppress, afflict; torment, smother" (13c.), from Medieval Latin oppressare, frequentative of Latin opprimere "press against, press together, press down;" figuratively "crush, put down, subdue, prosecute relentlessly" (in Late Latin "to rape"), from assimilated form of ob "against" (see ob-) + premere "to press, hold fast, cover, crowd, compress" (from PIE root *per- (4) "to strike"). In Middle English also "to rape." Related: Oppressed; oppressing.
oppressed (adj.)
"weighted or pressed down," physically or mentally, late 14c., past-participle adjective from oppress.
oppression (n.)
mid-14c., oppressioun, "cruel or unjust use of power or authority," from Old French opression (12c.), from Latin oppressionem (nominative oppressio) "a pressing down; violence, oppression," noun of action from past-participle stem of opprimere "press against, press together, press down;" figuratively "crush, put down, subdue, prosecute relentlessly" (in Late Latin "to rape"), from assimilated form of ob "against" (see ob-) + premere "to press, hold fast, cover, crowd, compress" (from PIE root *per- (4) "to strike").
Meaning "action of weighing on someone's mind or spirits" is from late 14c. Sense of "whatever oppresses or causes hardship" is from late 14c. In Middle English also "rape."
oppressive (adj.)
1640s, "unreasonably or unjustly burdensome," from Medieval Latin oppressivus, from oppress-, past participle stem of opprimere "press against, press together, press down;" figuratively "crush, put down, subdue, prosecute relentlessly" (see oppress). Sense of "inclined to oppress, tyrannical" is from 1712; that of "heavy, overwhelming" (of grief, woe, heat, etc.) is by 1712. Related: Oppressively; oppressiveness.
oppressor (n.)
"one who exercises undue severity in the use of power or authority," c. 1400, oppressour, from Old French opresseor, from Latin oppressor "a crusher, a destroyer," from opprimere (see oppress (v.)). In Middle English also "a criminal; a rapist" (mid-15c.).
opprobrious (adj.)
"full of reproach, intended to bring disgrace" (of language, words, etc.), late 14c., from Old French oprobrieus (Modern French opprobrieux) and directly from Late Latin opprobriosus, from Latin opprobare "to reproach, taunt," from assimilated form of ob "in front of, before" (see ob-) + probrum "reproach, infamy," from Proto-Italic *profro-, from PIE *probhro- "what is brought up" (against someone, as a reproach), from root *bher- (1) "to carry," also "to bear children." Compare Sanskrit prabhar-, Avestan frabar- "to bring, offer." The etymological sense is "disgrace attached to conduct considered shameful." Related: Opprobriously; opprobriousness.
opprobrium (n.)
"imputation of shameful conduct, insulting reproach," 1680s, from Latin opprobrium "disgrace, infamy, scandal, dishonor," from opprobare "to reproach, taunt" (see opprobrious). Earlier in English in nativized form opprobry (early 15c.).
oppugn (v.)
"fight against, oppose, resist," early 15c., from Latin oppugnare "to fight against, attack, assail," from assimilated form of ob "toward, against" (see ob-) + pugnare "to fight" (see pugnacious). Related: Oppugned; oppugning; oppugnancy; oppugnant; oppugnation.
opry (n.)
1914, U.S. dialectal pronunciation of opera. Especially in Grand Ole Opry, a radio broadcast of country music from Nashville, registered as a proprietary name 1950.
opsigamy (n.)
"marriage late in life," 1824, from Greek opse "late" (related to opiso "backward," opisthen "behind," from opi, a variant of epi "on it, at it;" see epi-) + -gamy "marriage."
opsimathy (n.)
"education late in life," 1650s, from Greek opsimathia "late learning," from opse "late, after a long time" (related to opiso "backward," opisthen "behind," from opi, a variant of epi "on it, at it;" see epi-) + manthanein "to learn" (from PIE root *mendh- "to learn"). Related: Opsimath (n.).
opt (v.)
"wish for, choose, desire," 1877, from French opter "to choose" (16c.), from Latin optare "choose, desire" (see option). For the first few years only in English in a French context. An earlier word for the same thing was optate (1610s), from Latin optatus. To opt out "choose not to participate" is by 1922. Related: Opted; opting.
optative (n.)
mid-15c., optatif, "the optative mood," in grammar, a form of a verb expressing wish or desire, from Old French optatif (15c.), from Late Latin optativus, from Latin optatus "wished, desired, longed for," past participle of optare "to choose, wish, desire" (see option). Also mid-15c. as an adjective, "expressing wish or desire by a distinct grammatical form." The general adjectival sense of "expressing or expressive of desire or wish" is by 1610s.
optics (n.)
"science of sight and the natural properties of light," 1570s, from optic; also see -ics. Used for Medieval Latin optica (neuter plural), from Greek ta optika "optical matters," neuter plural of optikos "optic."
optic (adj.)
late 14c., optik, "of or pertaining to the eye as the organ of vision," from Old French optique, obtique (c. 1300) and directly from Medieval Latin opticus "of sight or seeing," from Greek optikos "of or having to do with sight," from optos "seen, visible," related to ōps "eye," from PIE root *okw- "to see." Meaning "relating to or pertaining to vision or sight" is from 1590s. Optics "eyes" is from 1640s; "formerly the learned and elegant term; afterwards pedantic, and now usually humorous" [OED].
optical (adj.)
1560s, "relating to or connected with the science of optics; pertaining to vision," from optic + -al (1). Of abstract art, from 1964. In astronomy, in reference to double stars that appear so only because they lie in the same line of sight from earth, by 1868. Optical illusion is attested by 1757. Related: Optically.
optician (n.)
1680s, "person skilled in the science of optics, a sense now rare or obsolete; see optic + -ian. In the meaning "one who makes or sells optical instruments" it is attested from 1737, after French opticien "maker or seller of optical instruments," on the model of physician, etc.
optimal (adj.)
"most favorable," 1890, from optimum + -al (1), perhaps based on proximal, etc. Originally a word in biology. Related: Optimally; optimality.
optimism (n.)
1759 (in translations of Voltaire), from French optimisme (1737), from Modern Latin optimum, used by Gottfried Leibniz (in "Thodice," 1710) to mean "the greatest good," from Latin optimus "the best" (see optimum). The doctrine holds that the actual world is the "best of all possible worlds," in which the creator accomplishes the most good at the cost of the least evil.
Launched out of philosophical jargon and into currency by Voltaire's satire on it in "Candide." General sense of "belief that good ultimately will prevail in the world" first attested 1841 in Emerson; meaning "tendency to take a hopeful view of things" first recorded 1819 in Shelley.
optimize (v.)
1844, "to act as an optimist, take the most hopeful view of a matter," a back-formation from optimist. Meaning "to make the most of, develop to the utmost" is attested by 1857. Related: Optimized; optimizing.
optimization (n.)
1857, "act or process of making optimal," noun of action from optimize.
optimacy (n.)
"government by the nobles or upper classes," 1590s, from Modern Latin optimatia, from Latin optimas (plural optimates) "belonging to the best or noblest," in plural, "aristocrats," from optimus "best" (see optimum).
optimistic (adj.)
"of, pertaining to, or characterized by optimism; disposed to take the most hopeful view of a matter," 1845, from optimist + -ic. Related: Optimistical (1809); optimistically.
optimist (n.)
1759, "one who believes in metaphysical optimism," from French optimiste (1752); see optimism + -ist. Meaning "person of a hopeful disposition" is recorded by 1766.
optimum (n.)
1879, from Latin optimum, neuter singular of optimus "best, very good" (used as a superlative of bonus "good"), perhaps (Watkins) related to ops "power, resources" (in which case the evolution is from "richest" to "the most esteemed," thus from PIE root *op- "to work, produce in abundance"); or perhaps it is related to ob "in front of" (de Vaan), with superlative suffix *-tumos.
In English the word was used originally in biology, in reference to "conditions most favorable" (for growth, metabolic processes, etc.). As an adjective, "best or most favorable," from 1885.
optional (adj.)
"depending on preference," hence "that may be done or not done according to one's choice," 1765, from option + -al (1).