What is the Latin meaning of opus?
Emma Johnson
Updated on March 01, 2026
work, composition
opus (n.) “a work, composition,” especially a musical one, 1809, from Latin opus “a work, labor, exertion” (source of Italian opera, French oeuvre, Spanish obra), from Proto-Italic *opes- “work,” from PIE root *op- “to work, produce in abundance.” The plural, seldom used as such, is opera.
What does opus mean?
An opus is a created work, usually musical in nature. The composer’s greatest opus was inspired by the blooming of the spring flowers. While an opus is a piece of work, usually musical, the best way to remember it is to know that the preferred plural of opus is opera which everyone associates with music.
Can a person be a magnum opus?
A person’s greatest work or undertaking.
What does magnum opus mean in Latin?
great work
Magnum opus, which entered English in the late 18th century, retains the original Latin spelling and the literal meaning “great work.” Although the term most often refers to literary productions, it has been used to describe many kinds of great works, including paintings, movies, construction projects, and even …
Is Opus a valid Scrabble word?
Yes, opus is in the scrabble dictionary.
What is Charlotte’s magnum opus?
In Charlotte’s Web, Charlotte refers to her egg sac as her magnum opus, the “finest thing she has ever made,” and that pretty much captures the spirit of this Latin phrase meaning “great work.” Usually used for an artist’s or author’s greatest work, it can also be used ironically to refer to other great works — like …
What is Taylor Swift’s magnum opus?
“Red,” in my humble opinion, was Taylor Swift’s magnum opus. The album was originally released at a critical point in my life, and one of my fondest memories is going to see Swift perform it on tour just a few weeks after burying my father. That concert brought me joy at a time when I really needed it.
What is the plural for opus?
noun. \ ˈō-pəs \ plural opera\ ˈō-pə-rə , ˈä- \ also opuses\ ˈō-pə-səz \
What is the meaning of Opus in music?
Noun. opus ( plural opuses or opera ) ( music) A work of music or set of works with a specified rank in an ordering of a composer’s complete published works. Beethoven’s opus eighteen quartets are considered by many to be the beginning of the Romantic era. A work, especially of art .
What is the meaning of Opus 18?
(plural opuses or opera) A work of music or set of works with a specified rank in an ordering of a composer’s complete published works. Beethoven’s opus eighteen quartets are considered by many to be the beginning of the Romantic era.
What is the meaning of the painter’s last opus?
The painter’s last opus was a dedication to all things living, in a surprising contrast to all of his prior work. Borrowed from Latin opus.
What is an example of an opus number?
Mendelssohn’s Opus 90 is his Italian Symphony, for example, and Brahms’s Op. 77 is his Violin Concerto. Since many composers’ works were never given opus numbers in an orderly way, they now often have catalog numbers assigned by later scholars.