OPINION
opinion, ruling
(noun) the reason for a court’s judgment (as opposed to the decision itself)
impression, feeling, belief, notion, opinion
(noun) a vague idea in which some confidence is placed; “his impression of her was favorable”; “what are your feelings about the crisis?”; “it strengthened my belief in his sincerity”; “I had a feeling that she was lying”
opinion, sentiment, persuasion, view, thought
(noun) a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty; “my opinion differs from yours”; “I am not of your persuasion”; “what are your thoughts on Haiti?”
opinion, legal opinion, judgment, judgement
(noun) the legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision; “opinions are usually written by a single judge”
opinion, view
(noun) a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof; “his opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
opinion (plural opinions)
A subjective belief, judgment or perspective that a person has formed about a topic, issue, person or thing.
The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.
(obsolete) Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.
(obsolete) Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.
The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a doctor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.
(European Union law) a judicial opinion delivered by an Advocate General to the European Court of Justice where he or she proposes a legal solution to the cases for which the court is responsible
Verb
opinion (third-person singular simple present opinions, present participle opinioning, simple past and past participle opinioned)
(transitive, archaic) To have or express as an opinion.
Source: Wiktionary
O*pin"ion, n. Etym: [F., from L. opinio. See Opine.]
1. That which is opined; a notion or conviction founded on probable
evidence; belief stronger than impression, less strong than positive
knowledge; settled judgment in regard to any point of knowledge or
action.
Opinion is when the assent of the understanding is so far gained by
evidence of probability, that it rather inclines to one persussion
than to another, yet not without a mixture of incertainty or
doubting. Sir M. Hale.
I can not put off my opinion so easily. Shak.
2. The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or
things; estimation.
I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people. Shak.
Friendship . . . gives a man a peculiar right and claim to the good
opinion of his friend. South.
However, I have no opinion of those things. Bacon.
3. Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame;
public sentiment or esteem. [Obs.]
Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion. Shak.
This gained Agricola much opinion, who . . . had made such early
progress into laborious . . . enterprises. Milton.
4. Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression;
opiniativeness; conceitedness. [Obs.] Shak.
5. (Law.)
Definition: The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an
umpire, a counselor, or other party officially called upon to
consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted. To be of
opinion, to think; to judge.
– To hold opinion with, to agree with. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn.
– Sentiment; notion; persuasion; idea; view; estimation. See
Sentiment.
O*pin"ion, v. t.
Definition: To opine. [Obs.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition