[ 'ɒpətju:n , ˌɒpə'tju:n ]
■ adjective (of a time) especially convenient or appropriate.
↘appropriately timed.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Word History
Opportune comes from Latin opportunus , denoting a favourable wind blowing towards the harbour (as opposed to one that would blow a ship out to sea), from ob- 'in the direction of' and portus 'harbour'. From this developed the English sense 'advantageous' and also the noun opportunity . The Romans gave the name Portunus to the god who protected their harbours: from his name derives the negative word importunate , which originally meant 'inconvenient', and the related verb importune .