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op·er·a¹

(ŏpər-ə, ŏprə)

1. A theatrical presentation in which a dramatic performance is set to music.

2. The score of such a work.

3. A theater designed primarily for operas.

[Italian, work, opera, from Latin, work, service; see op- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

o·pe·ra²

(ōpər-ə, ŏpər-ə)

A plural of opus.

o·pus

(ōpəs)

n. pl. o·pe·ra (ōpər-ə, ŏpər-ə) or o·pus·es

A creative work, especially a musical composition numbered to designate the order of a composer's works.

[Latin; see op- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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