opening
Meaning
a hole or empty space that allows passage or access
the beginning or first part of something
an opportunity, especially for employment or business
a ceremony or event to mark the start of a public building or event
coming at the beginning; initial
Structure
Usage
she peered through a small opening in the fence.
the opening of the novel immediately captures the reader's attention.
there is an opening for a junior accountant in our finance department.
Etymology
the word 'opening' is a transparent english formation from the germanic verb 'open' and the nominalizing suffix '-ing'. the old english verb 'openian' itself derives from the adjective 'open', which has proto-germanic origins in 'upana-', meaning 'open' or 'raised up', and can be traced further back to the proto-indo-European root 'upo', meaning 'under' or 'up from under', conveying a sense of being uncovered. the suffix '-ing' is a prolific english noun-forming element, originating from the old english '-ung', used to denote the action or result of the verb. thus, the literal 'act or process of making open' evolved naturally into its modern meanings, encompassing the resultant gap, the initial phase, and the metaphorical opportunity that an open space or beginning presents.
Analysis
open (from old english 'openian', meaning to open, disclose, reveal; a verb root). ing (from old english '-ung', '-ing', a suffix forming verbal nouns indicating an action, process, or result).