■ noun
1》 a view or judgement not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
↘the beliefs or views of a large number of people.
↘an estimation of quality or worth: he had a high ~ of himself.
2》 Law a formal statement of reasons for a judgement given.
↘a barrister's advice on the merits of a case.
Phrases
be of the ~ that believe or maintain that.
a matter of ~ something not capable of being proven either way.
Origin
ME: via OFr. from L. opinio(n-) , from the stem of opinari 'think, believe'.