Etymologically
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opera

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɔ.pɛ.ra][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔː.pe.ra][1]

Forms

opera f (genitive operae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from opus “work”, its neuter plural ⟨opera⟩ reinterpreted as a collective feminine singular.[1][2] The TLL compares ⟨ōra⟩ “edge” beside ⟨ōra⟩, the plural of ōs “mouth”.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.[3] The OLD's earliest citations for most senses are from Plautus.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant effort devoted to a task, and Lewis and Short explain that opus is used of mechanical work, while opera implies free will and a desire to serve.[4][5] Plautus has many phrases: operam dare “to give one's attention, apply oneself”, operā meā “thanks to me”, operam lūdere “to waste one's effort”, and operae est “it is worth the trouble”.[4] It meant employment, a deed or effort, handiwork, service or assistance to others, and professional services.[4] Cato uses it of a day's work by one man, and Cicero by metonymy of labourers, operae, and in politics of hired rowdies.[4] Döderlein explains that opera is activity without intense exertion, merely turning one's hand to something.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant work, labour, care, attention, service.[7] In Medieval Latin it meant a day's compulsory field labour, labour service.[8] It survives in Spanish and Portuguese obra and Catalan obra.[1] English opera came in the 1640s from Italian opera “a work, composition”.[9]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius has the word.[3]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses operam dare and other phrases.[4][3]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a day's work.[4][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses operae of hired rowdies.[4][3]
  • 1640s – English opera is recorded, from Italian.[9]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Effort, exertion, pains, operā meā, thanks to me.[4]
  2. operam dare, to apply oneself to; to pay attention to.[4]
  3. Trouble, operae est, it is worth the trouble.[4]
  4. Work, employment; a deed.[4]
  5. Service, assistance; professional services.[4]
  6. A day's work.[4]
  7. (plural) Labourers, workmen; hired rowdies.[4]
  8. (Medieval Latin) Compulsory field labour, corvée.[8]

Word family

  • operārius
  • operōsus
  • operula
  • opella
  • operor

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com