opus Meaning & Definition

Synonyms of Opus

Antonyms of Opus

No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.

Opus in a Sentence

Beethoven's "Razumovsky" Quartets, Op. 59, are considered by many to be the beginning of the Romantic era.

The painter's last opus was a dedication to all things living, in a surprising contrast to all of his prior work.

Beethoven's opus eighteen quartets are considered by many to be the beginning of the Romantic era.

… produced a vast opus on the history of civilization.

At present he is planning the Pumpkins' next release, a double-album opus that is bound to delight the fans who snatched up his band's last release …

the composer's first opus

… opus numbers are meant to indicate the chronological order of musical pieces, although sometimes they indicate the order of publication rather than the exact order of composition. Sometimes it's actually scholars who make chronological catalogs long after the composers have died. …

the composer's final opus was performed posthumously to great acclaim

… produced a vast opus on the history of civilization. / At present he is planning the Pumpkins' next release, a double-album opus that is bound to delight the fans who snatched up his band's last release …

the composer's first opus / … opus numbers are meant to indicate the chronological order of musical pieces, although sometimes they indicate the order of publication rather than the exact order of composition. Sometimes it's actually scholars who make chronological catalogs long after the composers have died. …

Word Forms & Grammar

op·era

opus·es

opera

opus

opuses

opus (plural opuses or opera)

Words That Rhyme With Opus

Origin of Opus

Origin 1: borrowed from Latin oper-, opus (plural opera) "work, effort, product of labor, work of art," going back to Indo-European *h3ep-os-, *h3ep-es- "work" (whence also Sanskrit apas- "work, action"), derivative of *h3ep- "ability, force," whence Latin op-, *ops "power, ability, wealth, resource(s)," and, with varying suffixation, Sanskrit apnas- "possession, property, work," Hittite happina- "rich," happir-, happar- "business, trade," Germanic *afla- (whence Old English afol "power, might," Old Norse afl "strength"); and, with lengthened ablaut grade, Sanskrit āpas- "work, religious act," Avestan huuāpah- "performing good deeds," Germanic *ōbjan- "to perform" (whence Old Saxon oƀian "to celebrate," Old High German uoben, uoppen "to practice, exercise")

Origin 2: Borrowed from Latin opus.

First Known Use

1808