opus Latin · revision 2726

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *h₃ep-os}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɔ.pʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔː.pus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''opus''' ''n'' (genitive operis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ An inscription of the 3rd century BC has the spelling ''opos''.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*opes-|t=work]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₃ep-os|t=work]], a neuter s-stem from the root [[ine-pro|*h₃ep-|t=to work]], which also gives [[ops]] and [[omnis]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(Pokorny 1959) Cognate with [[spx|opesaúom]], [[xum|osatu]] and [[osc|úpsannúm]], Sabellic forms of a verb “to erect” built on the same noun, and further with [[sa|अपस्|tr=ápas-|t=work, action]], [[ae|huuāpah-|t=doing good work]], [[ang|efnan|t=to perform]] and [[goh|uoben|t=to practise]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan notes that [[operatus|alt=operātus]] “busy” is an adjective formed from [[opera]], and that the verb [[operor|alt=operārī]] was back-formed from it later.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is attested from Naevius onwards.^(de Vaan 2008) A statue base of the 3rd century BC reads ''Pomponi opos'', “the [[m|en|work]] of Pomponius”,^(OLD 2012) and Plautus speaks of a man worn out by dirty farm work.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant work to be done, a task, and especially the building of earthworks and fortifications; also work as an occupation or as forced labour, effort (''magno opere'', later [[magnopere]], to a great degree), and the activity of a thing.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It then meant workmanship, an exploit, and the product of work: a handiwork, a work of art, a literary work, a building, siegeworks, and a type of masonry (''opus tectorium'', ''album opus'').^(OLD 2012)

+

+ The phrase ''opus est'', “there is need”, with the dative of the person and the ablative of the thing, is so distinct that Georges and Gaffiot treat it as a separate indeclinable noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016) Ovid and Martial use it of sexual intercourse.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Medieval Latin used it for labour service (''opus castelli'', castle work), for the fabric fund of a church (''opus ecclesiae''), for divine worship (''opus Dei''), for alms and for a miracle.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010) It survives in Italian ''uopo'', Old French ''ues'' and Romanian ''op'',^(Wiktionary) while [[opera]] gave Italian ''opera'' and French ''œuvre''.^(Etymonline) English borrowed ''opus'' in 1809 for a work, especially a musical composition.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 3rd century BC – A statue is signed as the work (''opos'') of Pomponius.^(OLD 2012)

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for farm work and in ''opus est'', “there is need”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of workmanship and of his own literary work.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of siegeworks.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius has ''album opus'', stucco.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 860 – A Freising document has a medieval sense.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1809 – [[en|opus|alt=Opus]] is borrowed into English for a work, especially a musical one.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|work|alt=Work]] to be done, a task; work as an occupation; forced labour.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Building work, [[m|en|fortification|alt=fortifications]]; siegeworks.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Activity, effort, as in ''magno opere'', to a great degree.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Workmanship, style of construction; a type of masonry.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An exploit, an achievement.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The product of work: a creation, a work of art, a literary work, a building.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A business, an affair.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''opus est'' – there is need (of something).^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Labour service; the fabric fund of a church; divine worship; alms; a miracle.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[opera]]

+ * [[opifex]]

+ * [[opusculum]]

+ * [[peropus]]

+ * [[magnopere]]

+ * [[maximopere]]

+ * [[nimiopere]]

+ * [[quantopere]]

+ * [[sesquiopera]]

+ * [[tantopere]]

+ * [[operistitium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[omnis]]

+ * [[ops]]

+ * [[en|opus]]

+ * [[en|opera]]

+ * [[en|operate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In ''opus est'' the thing needed stands in the ablative (''mihi opus est opera tua'', “I need your help”) or, as subject, in the nominative, and the perfect participle can be used impersonally (''cauto opus est'', “care is needed”).^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}