operose

adjective

op·​er·​ose ˈä-pə-ˌrōs 

: tedious, wearisome

operosely adverb

operoseness noun

Did you know?

Operose comes from the Latin operōsus, which has the meaning of "diligent," "painstaking" or "laborious." That word combines opera, meaning "activity," "effort," or "work," with -ōsus—the Latin equivalent of the English -ose and -ous suffixes, meaning "full of" or "abounding in." In its earliest uses, in the mid-16th century, the word was used to describe people who are industrious or painstaking in their efforts. About a century later, the word was being applied as it more commonly is today: as an adjective describing tasks and undertakings requiring much time and effort.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin operōsus "diligent, painstaking, laborious," from opera "activity, effort, work" + -ōsus -ose entry 1 — more at opera entry 2

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above

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