opportunus

Opportunus is a Latin adjective meaning opportune, timely, favorable, or suitable. It describes events, conditions, or actions that are fitting for a particular purpose or circumstance.

The term originates from Latin opportunus, with the sense of being in the right opportunity or favorable moment. It has given rise to modern descendants in several languages, including English opportune, French opportun, Italian opportuno, Spanish oportuno, and Portuguese oportuno. The related noun opportunitas means opportunity, suitability, or convenience.

In classical Latin usage, opportunus expresses timeliness or fitness for a given context. Common collocations include tempus opportunum (opportune time), locus opportunus (favorable place), and res opportuna (an appropriate matter). It can denote prudent timing in decisions or actions and is often found in philosophical and rhetorical texts that discuss suitability or advantageous moments.

In modern English and other European languages, the root continues to convey the idea of being well-timed or advantageous. The broader family also yields terms such as opportunitas, opportunity, and opportunism, the latter acquiring specialized senses in political and ethical discourse. The Latin origin is frequently cited in etymological discussions of the concept of opportunity and timing.

Overall, opportunus serves as a classic example of how Latin adjectives have shaped the vocabulary of timeliness and suitability across Romance languages and English, illustrating the long-standing linguistic connection between timing, advantage, and appropriateness.