opine
UK: əʊˈpaɪn | US: oʊˈpaɪn
vi. to express an opinion
vt. to state as an opinion
opine = op<think> + ine<verb suffix>
- op<think>: From Latin opinari ("to think, believe"), related to opinio ("opinion").
- ine<verb suffix>: A verbal suffix derived from Latin -are, indicating action.
Etymology Origin:
The word opine traces back to Latin opinari, meaning "to think" or "form a judgment." It entered English in the late Middle Ages via Old French opiner, retaining its core sense of expressing a belief. The morpheme op- preserves the original Latin root, while -ine marks it as a verb. Unlike opinion (a noun), opine specifically denotes the act of voicing one’s thoughts.
Scholars often opine on the implications of historical events.
She opined that the policy would harm small businesses.
The critic opined favorably about the new film.
He hesitated to opine without sufficient evidence.
Judges rarely opine publicly on pending cases.