opinionated
/əˈpɪnjəneɪtɪd/
adjective
Origin
Latin
opinio — belief, opinion, or conjecture
Overview
Meaning Now
- Characterized by holding obstinate and unreasonable opinions, often expressing them in a dogmatic or self-assertive manner.
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
opinionated
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term emerged in the early 17th century, likely reflecting a shift in how society viewed the expression of personal conviction versus perceived intellectual stubbornness. While 'opinion' had been in use earlier, the addition of the suffix suggested a negative nuance of being overly attached to one's own views.
Evolution
- Latin
opinio
“opinion”
Noun from the verb opinari (to think, believe).
- Middle French
opinion
“opinion”
Adopted into Middle French from Latin.
- Early Modern English
opinionated
“firmly holding an opinion”
Formation using the suffix -ate and the participle suffix -ed.
Connections
Word parts
opinion
root
a belief or judgment
-ate
suffix
suffix used to form verbs or adjectives indicating state
-ed
suffix
forms an adjective from a noun or verb
Related across languages
French
opinion
opinion
Spanish
opinión
opinion
Explore next
Related to opinionated
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.