English edit

Etymology edit

From Latin operōsus.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

operose (comparative more operose, superlative most operose)

  1. (now rare) Of a person: busy, industrious, or painstaking. [from 16th c.]
    • 1805, William Godwin, chapter V, in Fleetwood, London: Richard Bentley, published 1853, page 42:
      When this operose and hard-working student descended from his closet, and gained a sort of tacit leave from his tutor to join in the circle of us gay and high-spirited fellows, the part he played was no more advantageous to him, than his former exhibition had been among the learned.
  2. (now rare) Made with or requiring a lot of labour; painstaking, laborious. [from 17th c.]
  3. (now rare) Tedious, wearisome.
    • 1662, Edward Stillingfleet, “The Truth of Scripture-History Asserted”, in Origines Sacrae, Or, A Rational Account of the Grounds of Christian Faith, as to the Truth and Divine Authority of the Scriptures, and Matters Therein Contained, 3rd edition, London: R. W. for Henry Mortlock, published 1666, page 103:
      when there was so great reason to make it common, since the square letters are less operose, more expedite and facile, then the Samaritan, which is, when time serves, used as a plea for their great Antiquity.

Anagrams edit

Italian edit

Adjective edit

operose

  1. feminine plural of operoso

Latin edit

Adjective edit

operōse

  1. vocative masculine singular of operōsus

References edit

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