Middle English Dictionary Entry
opportūnitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | opportūnitẹ̄ n. Also oportunit(i)e. |
| Etymology | OF oportunité & L opportūnitas. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A convenient, suitable, or favorable time; appropriate occasion or circumstances; time of ~, proper time; (b) necessity; (c) good fortune (in having sons).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.163 : Opportunite [L opportunitate] i-gete, he outlawed Godwyne, his fader in lawe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.310 : Contricioun auaileth nat with outen sad purpos of shrifte if man haue oportunitee [vr. space or leyser].
- (1395) Wycl.12 Concl.(Th 17)301 : Þe articlis of confessiun..with a feynid power of absoluciun enhaunsith prestis pride and ȝeuith hem oportunitie of priui calling.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3540 : Þe maner is of women..To drawe þedir..Wher þei may finde opportunyte To her desyre.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3709 : Sche toke hede..But to compasse..How sche may cachen opportunyte With hym to speke.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6793 : Ȝe ben gretly for to blame..To slen a maide..And graunte hir noon oportunyte For to be-wepe hir virginite.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2748 : Horestes..cast hym pleynly avengid for to be Whan he may haue opportunyte.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.26.16 : He souȝte oportunyte [vr. marg.: best tyme; WB(1): couenablete] to bitraye hym.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)40/14 : Þese ben þe fruytes and werkis whiche I abyde to receyue of a soule, þat is to seye, experiens of vertues in tyme of oportunyte.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.53/32 : Ther was a man of Colchester hauyng oportunyte to exsecute that he had decreid yn his mynde that were nedefull.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)195 : He souȝte oportunyte how he myȝte betraye Jesu with oute the presence of the peple.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)398/76 : Yif thei myhte fynde oportunyte, On his noblesse thei wolde auenged be.
- (1444) Proc.Privy C.6.323 : The King..standeth in..hope of a pees..for þe laisir and oportunite of appointyng of þe whiche þere is taken..a trieus.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)353/42 : Þou schalte first with-draw þe fro yuel felawschypes..sekynge alle-wey oportunite, where and whattyme þou mayste a place of reste.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1005 : Oportunite when he gatt, He was anker and sole satt.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7789 : They hadde fredam & space, And also opportunyte To don A-mys at lyberte.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15092 : Spare nat also to smyte..Whan thow hast opportunyte [rime: secre].
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.403 : Woodes be to theym as for towres..whiche take fleenge as fiȝhte when they thenke tyme and oportunite [Trev.: hit is to do].
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Conf.(Dub 245)340 : Many men..wanteþ oportunytee to shryue hym to man bi voice.
- a1500 Craft Dying (Rwl C.894)418 : Let som man..sey the orisons that followen after as the tyme & oportunyte will suffre.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.435 : That man is a cowarde that wille not dye when oportunite requirethe hit [Trev.: whanne it nedeth; L quando oportet].
c
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.3.42 : Who..ne seide..that thow neere right weleful..with the oportunyte and noblesse of thyne masculyn children.