different between benign vs opportune

English

Etymology

From Middle English benigne, benygne, from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus (“kind, good”), from bene (“well”) + genus (“origin, kind”). Compare malign.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /b??na?n/

Adjective

benign (comparative benigner or more benign, superlative benignest or most benign)

1. Kind; gentle; mild.
   • 1826, Mary Shelley, The Last Man, part 1, chapter 9

     But though we both entertained these ideas, we differed in their application. Resentment added also a sting to my censure; and I reprobated Raymond's conduct in severe terms. Adrian was more benign, more considerate.

2. (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable
3. (in combination) Not harmful to the environment.

4. (medicine) Not posing any serious threat to health; not particularly aggressive or recurrent.

Synonyms

• (medicine): non-malignant

Antonyms

• malign
• malignant

Derived terms

• benignly
• benignant
• benignity
• benign neglect

Translations

English

Etymology

From Old French opportun, from Latin opportunus.

Adjective

opportune (comparative more opportune, superlative most opportune)

1. Suitable for some particular purpose.

2. At a convenient or advantageous time.

Synonyms

• (suitable): appropriate, proper; see also Thesaurus:suitable
• (convenient time): seasonable, timesome; see also Thesaurus:timely

Antonyms

• (all): inopportune
• (suitable): inappropriate, improper; see also Thesaurus:unsuitable
• (convenient time): unseasonable, untime; see also Thesaurus:untimely

Related terms

• opportunity
• opportuneness

Translations

Danish

Adjective

opportune

1. definite of opportun
2. plural of opportun

French

Adjective

opportune

1. feminine singular of opportun

Italian

Adjective

opportune

1. feminine plural of opportuno

Latin

Etymology 1

Adverb

opport?n? (comparative opport?nius, superlative opport?nissim?)

1. favourably; seasonably; opportunely

Etymology 2

Adjective

opport?ne

1. vocative masculine singular of opport?nus

References

• opportune in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• opportune in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• opportune in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette