Word of the Day: Opinion
opinion
o-pin-ion / ə-pĭn-yən
noun
1. a belief stronger than an impression but not substantiated with proof
The person who has no opinion will seldom be wrong.
French Proverb
2. the current, widespread or prevailing point of view
A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.
Chinese Proverb
3. the judgement given by an expert
If you have a doctor who would be offended by a second opinion, he or she is probably not the right doctor for you.
Dr. Gregory Abel, ? –
4. a judgement as to the worth of someone or something
None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.
From “The Salt Cellars” by Charles Spurgeon, 1834 – 1892
5. the formal statement of a court explaining how it arrived at its decision
Reading a U.S. Supreme Court opinion can be intimidating. The average opinion includes 4,751 words, and is one of approximately 75 issued each year.
“How to Read a U.S. Supreme Court Opinion”, American Bar Association, www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/publications/teaching-legal-docs/how-to-read-a-u-s–supreme-court-opinion, November 27, 2018
6. an attorney’s formal statement that addresses how a law should be applied in a particular instance
An attorney general opinion is a written interpretation of existing law. Attorney general opinions cannot create new provisions in the law or correct unintended, undesirable effects of the law.
“Attorney General Opinions”, www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/attorney-general-opinions
