Adjacent Words

Opportune definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

OPPORTU'NE, a. [L. opportunus; ob and porto, to bear or bring; probably from the root of fero or porto, to bear. The sense of the verb opporto, would be to bring to or upon. See Impart, Importune. In this and all words of like signification, the primary sense is to fall, come or bring to. See Luck, Fortune, Season.]
Properly, having come or being present at a proper time; hence, seasonable; timely; well timed. It agrees with seasonable rather than with convenient, though the sense of the latter may be included in it.
Perhaps in view of those bright confines, whence with neighboring arms, and opportune excursion, we may chance re-enter heaven.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: suitable or at a time that is suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose; "an opportune place to make camp"; "an opportune arrival" [ant: inopportune]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French opportun, from Latin opportunus, from ob- toward + portus port, harbor — more at ob-, ford Date: 15th century 1. suitable or convenient for a particular occurrence <an opportune moment> 2. occurring at an appropriate time <an opportune offer of assistance> • opportunely adverb • opportuneness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 (of a time) well-chosen or especially favourable or appropriate (an opportune moment). 2 (of an action or event) well-timed; done or occurring at a favourable or useful time. Derivatives: opportunely adv. opportuneness n. Etymology: ME f. OF opportun -une f. L opportunus (as OB-, portus harbour), orig. of the wind driving towards the harbour

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Opportune Op`por*tune", a. [F. opporiun, L. opportunus, lit., at or before the port; ob (see Ob-) + a derivative of portus port, harbor. See Port harbor.] Convenient; ready; hence, seasonable; timely. --Milton. This is most opportune to our need. --Shak. -- Op`por*tune"ly, adv. -- Op`por*tune"ness, n.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Opportune Op`por*tune", v. t. To suit. [Obs.] --Dr. Clerke(1637).

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

If something happens at an opportune time or is opportune, it happens at the time that is most convenient for someone or most likely to lead to success. (FORMAL) I believe that I have arrived at a very opportune moment... The timing of the meetings was opportune. ADJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. Seasonable, convenient, timely, fit, suitable, favorable, propitious, auspicious, fortunate, lucky, well-timed, felicitous, appropriate.

Moby Thesaurus

a propos, ad rem, adapted, advantageous, advisable, applicable, apposite, appropriate, apropos, apt, auspicious, becoming, befitting, beneficial, congruous, convenient, decent, desirable, dovetailing, expedient, favorable, feasible, felicitous, fit, fitted, fitten, fitting, fortunate, fructuous, geared, germane, good, happy, helpful, just right, likely, lucky, meet, meshing, on the button, pat, pertinent, politic, profitable, proper, propitious, prosperous, providential, qualified, recommendable, relevant, right, ripe, seasonable, seemly, sortable, suitable, suited, suiting, tailored, timely, to be desired, to the point, to the purpose, useful, well-timed, wise, worthwhile