Middle English Dictionary Entry
opī̆niǒun n.
Entry Info
Forms | opī̆niǒun n. Also oppinioun, openion, opeinion, opunioun, upinioun, appinion. |
Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A person's belief, conviction, or view; holden ~, to believe something; bi (in) mi ~, in my opinion; like here ~, according to their belief; ben set in the same ~, be in agreement; (b) an authoritative view, theory, or doctrine (whether approved or not); fals ~, heresy; bi ~, according to authority; (c) a disputed position, differing view; diverse ~, (d) a mere opinion, in contrast to truth or certainty; an untested theory; ~ of usaunces, a convention, conventional belief; (e) a common belief, notion, or superstition.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1269 : I..wende and hadde a greet opinioun That if I myghte scapen..Than hadde I been in ioye.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.183 : Thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre, And I seyde his opinioun was good.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1951 : Zorobabel hath told The tale of his opinion.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1509 : I consente and conferme..Youre wordes alle and youre opynyoun.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)40 : Þyse two [poverty and patience]..in myn vpynyoun, hit arn of on kynde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.74 : For wisdam & prudent aduertence..in myn opinioun..this fable of amptis was contreved.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3510 : Eche of hem gan with other rowne..Demyng þer-of liche her oppinioun.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)113 : To holde wynde, be myn opynyoun, Wil engendre Collis passioun.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.790 : I may nat endure that thow dwelle In so unskilful an oppynyoun.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)37/9 : Be a fool drunken..he passith in his owne opynyoun a meyster of diuinite.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)368 : Opynyone: Opinio.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)156 : They shul sone han helthe & bote..Thys is fully myn opynyounn.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4894 : Thogh men contrarie eek your oppynyoun, Þei may, per cas, conseile yow þe best.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)9/248 : I am to bold to holde this opynyoun.
- (1458) Visit Hen.VI (Vsp B.16)26 : Egremown and Clifford..Ben set in the same opynyon.
- a1475(c1450) Shirley SSecr.(Add 5467)281/14 : The Parcians..holden this opynion, that the kynge will not acheve that is not large.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.58.39a : An heretik synniþ dedli in pride, for he chesiþ..his delit in his oune opinion and in his oune seinge, for he weniþ it soþ.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)83/6 : No prynce ought not dispice to her othir mennys opinyons, and specially of suche as be wyse men.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)181/33 : I holde opinion that of all the londes in Crystendome yett that londe wer beste to dwelle in.
- (1483) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.2.1157 : In myn openion it shuld be gretly for the wele of that toune.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)561 : Fre will holdeth this opynyon, Þat it is grete dures..To kepe an hert in so streyt a presoun.
- a1500 Abbrev.Elucid.(Pen 12)37/19 : The spirite of a man, after som menis appynyon.., hit gothe streyght .. to Hevyn.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)69/22 : Ofte hi ualleþ ine errour and ine ualse opinions and ine eresye.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2813 : I nam no dyuynystre..Ne me ne lyst thilke opynyons [vr. opynyounnys] to telle Of hem.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.65 : He chaungede þe forsaide opinioun and trowynge of his maister.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.337 : Epicurus..heeld opynyoun that pleyn delit Was verray felicitee parfit.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4425 : What that god forwoot moot nedes be, After the opynyoun of certeyn clerkis.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1174 : Of his deificacion After the false oppinion, That have I told, so as thei meene.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)106b/b : Bedes opiniyoun was þat heuen is of fury kynde.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)20 : Y wyl no þyng seye But þat ys preued by crystes feye, By holy wryt, or seyntes sermons, Or by dyuers holy opynyons.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6245 : Diane..goddes is callid of viage, After sentence and oppinioun Of hem þat werke be calculacioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3051 : It is hard destyne to eschewe, As seyn þo folke in þer oppinioun Þat werke & truste oon constellacioun.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)3081 : Som clerkes maynte[ne] Swilk an opinion..Þat a saule..has of þe ayre a body.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.6.106-7 : As ofte as they [thoughts] casten awey sothe opynyouns, they clothen hem in false opynyouns.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)123/21 : The erthe..be abouen & be benethen xx Ml. cccc & xxv myles after the opynyoun of olde wise astronomeres.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)181a/b : Þe comune sentence and opinioun of autours and of practisores is þat euerye induracioun of synewes..falleþ in one of two maners.
- (1433) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23155 : The John Wyclyf opinions and his felawes er commendable.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.442 : Vnkouth & straunge is ther opynyoun..That a soule..Mihte appeere..Onto eyen which that be bodily.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2227 : Manli pryncis han this opynyoun: In multitude stondeth nat victorie.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)27 : Manye oolde philosophris..folewiden opynyoun þat mannys soule is departable fro þe body.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)5 : It is miche nede forto..vnroote and ouerturne tho thre trowingis, holdingis, or opiniouns.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)3819 : And whoso hade deuocioun In any oþer opinioun At domesday schal dampned be.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)140/5 : Cristen men..be dyuyded in diuers parties & sectys and holden diuers opiniouns of heresyes.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1167 : Thenne fareth he [Lucifer] forth felaship to gete, To holde his opinion ouer alle þingz.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13183 : Chastyte, by oppynyoun, Haueth thys condycioun.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)118/29 : Agayn the opinyon of hem whiche holden that delicat and plesaunte metis strengthen mor the body than the grete metes..Aristotill seith the delicatyves norysheth not the membres of a man so moche as dothe the gros metis.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)164/15 : Þys fest was ordeynet..yn confondyng heretykes, and forto destrye þe fals oppynyons þat þay holden aȝeynes þe holy Trinite.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.89 : Clerkis hau an opeynyon that..When Cryst Jesu roose..The same pece retourned.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.6.20 : Thou Tymothe, kepe the..thing bitakun to thee, eschewinge..opynyouns [L oppositiones] of fals name of kunnyng.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2114 : Some sein he dede wel ynowh, And som men sein he dede amis, Diverse opinion ther is.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)34b/a : We haue nouȝt to do with þis strif, for eiþir..opinioun semeþ vs touchinge oure menynge.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26067 : Þar es set gain þis resun, O sere men sere opinion.
- ?c1400 Chaucer Bo.(Add 10340)1.pr.3.[40] : Eueryche of hem [Epicureans and Stoics] wolde drawen to þe defence of his oppinioun þe wordes of socrates.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.817 : Iacobus de Vitriaco Is contrarie of oppynioun.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)43/25 : When þe abbas and þe prioresse er of contrary opynion, both thayre awne saules bus nedly be in perel.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)628/30 : Spodium, what þat it is þere ben opiniouns.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)3 : Of..þe makeris of rome or of hem þat first dwelt þere are many opynyones.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.67 : Of whiche cite be diuerse opiniones, after diuerse auctores, in what parte of Briteyne that cite was edifiede.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)23a/b : Þe firste schal tellen..what diuers opiniouns dyuers men holden.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)27a/b : Wheþir þei [teeth] ben boonys or noon, þer beþ dyuers opiniouns.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)168/12 : Of many it is full harde to be good be cause of dyuerse opinions and willes that they haue.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)19b/23 : Dyuerce opynyons bene of synnes, veynys, and Arteryng.
d
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.988 : Yf ther myghte ben a variaunce..fro Goddis purveyinge, Ther nere no prescience..But it were rather an opynyoun Uncerteyn, and no stedfast forseynge.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.4.103 : Thilke thyng that hath no propre beute..resceyveth somtyme prys..by the opinyoun of usaunces.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.144 : Yif tho thinges that ne han no certein bytydingis ben ipurveied as certein, it scholde ben dirknesse of opinioun, nat sothfastnesse of science.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)54/14 : Opynyoun is a trowyng wherbi we assenten to eny þing as to be a treuþ, bi cause of likli euydencis not sure and sikir.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.21.14a : Ne resceiue non opinion, ne fantasie, ne singuler conseite..whilk contrarieþ to þe leste ordinaunce..of al Holi Kirke.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)90 : Treen similacris are prelatis rude in þer doctrin..þat are not but in opynioun.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)485 : Blesside is he that makith dewe profe..For bi opinion is many a man Deceived.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)732 : Often tymes his mynde to & fro In new opinions he shalle change in woo.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)25/13 : O light which enlumyneste whanne reason failithe and vnwourthy oppinion.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)80/24 : Ovirprowde men..wene to make of wille, reason; of oppynion, connynge; of argument disseyveable, shewyng.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)103/60 : Opinion is whyl a thing is in non-certayn, and hid from mens very knowleging.
e
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.601 : If that a prynce vseth hasardrye..He is as by commune opynyoun Yholde the lasse.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.859 : Many man weneth that he may nat synne for no likerousnesse that he doth with his wyf; certes that opynyon [vr. opynioune] is fals.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.531 : Som men holde oppinion That it is constellacion Which causeth al that a man doth.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.862 : In tholde dayes..Al was this land fulfild of fairye..This was the olde opynyoun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)20b/a : Þe soule..by settinge of naciouns..is wynde..But þis opiniyoun is opunliche fals.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108a/b : By þe opunioun of þe comoun puple þis cercle galaxias is þe vore of þe passinge of þe sonne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)187a/a : Of paradys and of place þerof was opinioun amonge naciouns.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)31/25 : A comen opinioun þat fals is haþ deceyued þe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.7.66 : We, in folwynge the opynioun of the peple, have..concluded thing that is unable to be wened.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)47/16 : Þe comon opinioun es þat þe erthe es waxen heghe swa of þe self [F de luy mesmes]..and ȝit waxez.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)161a/b : Þe opinioun of diuerse and namelye of þe comune puple is þat no maner bocche schal be repercussed.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)6/27 : We Cristen men..may brynge ayen to morall mynde the opynyones of ancient pepill.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)743 : Þe comoun opynyon and tellyng..scottys men..say þat many myracles..God schewed be him.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2033 : This olde opinion ye may tech your brodire How no good odour is contrarye to a nothire, But it is not so of stynking smyllis.
2.
(a) The faculty of judgment, mind; (b) a judgment, decision, or verdict; estimate; bi on ~, by a unanimous decision; commune ~, joint decision; like min ~, in accordance with my decision; (c) plan, plot, proposal; purpose, intention; (d) knowledge; expectation; (e) report, rumor; (f) reputation, regard, esteem.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2015 : Þus of wisdam sche made hem for to deme, And so to cast in hir opinioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3210 : Whiche counseil Hector..commendith in his oppinoun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5515 : Vlixes and..Diomede..fillen in a drede Supposynge in her oppinioun Þat som rumour was fallen in þe toun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.131 : His title I cleime þat he hath no riȝt, Þe doom committyng to ȝoure oppiniouns.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2164 : He, nothing war in his opynyoun Of this conpassed conspiracioun..Rood ay forth.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.347 : That ye loveres..doon, of good entencioun, Ful ofte thi lady wol it mysconstruwe, And deme it harm in hire oppynyoun.
- c1480(1422) Lydg.SD (Add 48031)50/25 : This manly man Iulius, demyng in his opynyon that tyme loste, [etc.].
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.153 : If oþere wolde have made suche froward þinges aȝenst me, ȝe auȝt for to soften þe opiniouns of fonde men wiþ better interpretacioun.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3214 : Therto thei [doctors] acorden alle As for final conclusioun, And tolden here opinioun To themperour.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1091 : My counseil is..þat..By on assent and oon oppinioun..we retourne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.367 : Þei fil..to speken of Enee..Shortly concluding, by oon oppinioun, His final exile.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1613 : Ȝe shal han, lik myn opynyoun, The gouernaunce of this Regioun.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)618 : I have herd al youre opynyoun, And in effect yit be we nevere the neer.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.365 : Bi thoppynyoun of thi [Fortune's] wheel most double..Ouerthwertli thou brouhtest men in trouble.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)97/12 : Þe good spirit..empechid wiþ some errour or doute in his þought..shoulde reporte him to þe oppinion [vrr. openyon, opiniones] of the chirche.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)147/19 : This shall be the opynyon betwyxte you two brethirne.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)320/20 : Four men of religion in on hous myȝtyn spendyn twenty þousant mark be her wil & be her comoun opynyon.
c
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1480 : This was his opynyoun [vr. opynnyoun], That in that groue he wolde him hyde al day.
- (a1400) MSS PRO in App.Bk.Lond.E.274 : Thomas Austyn Is..on of the principall meyntenors of tretorie..helpynge and meyntenynge with Johan Norhamptone and hese in the same openyon that he was Inne In the struxsion of the Cete of London.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6721 : To whiche conseil some wern contrarie And variaunt to þis oppinioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5106 : Hector..Whos herte myȝt asofte nor aswage Nouþer praier nor waymentacioun, Hym to restreyne from his oppinioun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.4001 : Demetrius Assentid was..For tacomplisshe, lik hir oppynyoun, Al hir desirs.
- (1450) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.321 : All personnes of the said Craft haue fully in opinion to obeye, observe, and kepe them [ordinances].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1228/6 : Leve thys opynyon, other ellis I shall curse you.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2908 : He contynued in his symple opunioun..to slee his doughter.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)115/4 : He makyth a gret comendacion of Arestotyl, how many of þe olde phylisophris held hym of þe noumbyr of prophetys, and odyr sundry oppynyownnys of Aristotyl.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3179 : He..smot þe kyng..Having þo noon oppinioun Þat he was kyng, nor suspecioun.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1495 : In me ther may nat synke A good opynyoun, if that ye wende.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.162 : Whan þing is ferthest fro ovre oppynyon, Than werketh he his wondrys ryght at his wille.
e
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.24.6 : Ȝe ben to heere bateyls, and opynyouns of bateyls.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)29/1 : Wanne opinions risen of werres & bateilles, þanne dreden lordes.
f
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.4.24 : His opynyoun, or fame [WB(2): fame; L opinio], wente in to al Syrie.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7909 : He was most of oppinioun Amongis Grekis, and reputacioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1393 : His name sprede gan aboute, Þat of his fame þe gret oppinioun Dilated is vn-to þe Regioun.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2460 : Euery man hath swich opynyoun In Tydeus for his gentyllesse..That he was holde the moste famous knyght.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.6.8 : Manye han had ful greet renoun by the false opinyoun of the peple.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)12/25 : Faustus was in swech opinion amongis hem þat who-se-euer folowid him..þei saide þat he folowid..the Holy Goost.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)112/15 : He led a solitary lif in þe mountes and was in gret opinion both to þe Pope & þe court.
3.
(a) Heart, feelings; (b) desire, wish, preference; (c) arrogance, presumption, conceit.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2754 : Hiȝe desire..brent in hir oppinioun, Of lust sche hadde to meten with Iason.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.328 : Whan þat he herd..of þe elleccioun, He was displesed in his oppinioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3323 : Þis was hir hope, fully deuoide of drede, Vndispeired in ther oppinioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6787 : Oute of ȝoure herte, allas, pite is gon'...more cruel in ȝoure oppinioun, For lak of pite, þan tigre or lyoun.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2261 : In his opynyoun he was alway affered of tresoun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.1992 : The kyng hadde ful gret plesaunce And gret reioishyng in his opynyoun.
- a1450 For lac (Tan 346)23 : I se huntynge, I se hornes blow..But alle this myrth..May don non ese to my opynyoun.
- ?1457 Hardyng Chron.A (Lnsd 204:Hammond)234/17 : Than fled the lorde..Musyng in his oppynyoun venymouse How that he myght the chirche distroy.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2127 : Armed were they..Euerich after his opinyoun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1261 : He hadde off wommen non opynyoun With hem to dele.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.67 : Palladioun, Whiche Vlixes..vniustly doth possede, On hym vsurpinge by fals oppinioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2303 : Men wolde deme me pleinly to sotte, To presume of oppinioun For to delate a descripcioun, Siþen Guydo..was but bref.