opportunist
UK[ˌɒp.əˈtʃuː.nɪst]US[ˌɑː.pɚˈtuː.nɪst]
n
A person who takes advantage of opportunities as and when they arise, especially with little regard for principles or consequences.
adj
Taking immediate advantage of opportunities as they arise, often with little consideration for principles or long-term consequences.
Morpheme Breakdown
op
port
unist
op
toward, against, in the way of
port
harbor, port
unist
Etymology
The word 'opportunist' is built upon the foundation of 'opportunity', which itself originates from the Latin 'opportunus'. This Latin term was a nautical metaphor, combining 'ob-' (toward) and 'portus' (harbor), literally describing a wind blowing toward the harbor, thus being favorable for sailing. Over time, this concrete sense of a timely or advantageous condition evolved into the abstract meaning of a favorable juncture of circumstances. The agent suffix '-ist' was later appended, creating a term for a person who capitalizes on such favorable moments, often with a connotation of self-interest and a lack of scruples, a meaning that solidified in the 19th century.
Analysis
Structure: op + port + unist
- op: A form of the Latin prefix 'ob-', meaning 'toward, against, in the way of'.
- port: From Latin 'portus', meaning 'harbor, port'.
- unist: A suffix derived from '-une' (Latin '-unus', forming nouns) + '-ist' (agent suffix), indicating a person who practices or is concerned with something.
Examples
He was criticized as a political opportunist who changed his stance based on opinion polls.
The team played an opportunist game, waiting for their opponents to make a mistake.
She is not a long-term planner but an opportunist, seizing chances as they appear.