operose

[ op-uh-rohs ]

See synonyms for operose on Thesaurus.com

adjective

industrious, as a person.
done with or involving much labor.

Origin of operose

First recorded in 1530–50; from Latin operōsus “busy, active,” equivalent to oper- (stem of opus ) “work” + -ōsus -ose¹

Other words from operose

op·er·ose·ly, adverb
op·er·ose·ness, noun

Words Nearby operose

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use operose in a sentence

The common Scotch saying, on the sight of anything operose and finical, “he must have had little to do that made that!”
Familiar Studies of Men and Books | Robert Louis Stevenson
But it is a most awkward, operose, and defective piece of machinery, quite unworthy of being presented to my readers.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines | Andrew Ure
On the above-described operose and preposterous process, it is needless to make any remarks.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines | Andrew Ure
operose assequuntur qu volunt, anxii tenent qu assecuti sunt; the word consequuntur would be too weak.
Dderlein's Hand-book of Latin Synonymes | Ludwig Dderlein
An operose and expensive establishment of a Supreme Court was made, and charged upon the revenues of the country.
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. VIII. (of 12) | Edmund Burke

British Dictionary definitions for operose

operose

/ (ˈɒpəˌrəʊs) /

adjectiverare

laborious
industrious; busy

Origin of operose

C17: from Latin operōsus painstaking, from opus work

Derived forms of operose

operosely, adverb
operoseness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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