Opinion, n.
Etymology: [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.
3 more senses
5. (Law.)
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.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Opinion, v. t.
To opine. [Obs.]
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for opinion; he lists it under faith, idea.
Where he writes about it:
An opinion is a general conclusion held as probable, tho without full certainty; a persuasion is a more confident opinion, involving the heart as well as the intellect. — from faith
The present popular use of idea makes it to signify any product of mental apprehension or activity, considered as an object of knowledge or thought; this coincides with the primitive sense at but a single point--that an idea is mental as opposed to anything substantial or physical; thus, almost any mental product, as a belief, conception, design, opinion, etc., may now be called an idea. — from idea