Definition 1: (Erudite) A creative work, such as a novel, musical piece, or painting.

Usage 1: The plural of "opus" is "opera," so the question arises, how is it possible to pluralize "opera," too ("operas")? Italian took the final [a] of the unusual Latin plural as the feminine singular ending found in many Italian nouns, such as la casa "the house," mia mamma "my mother," and began using the plural form as a discrete (separate) word. English borrowed "opus" from Latin but "opera," from Italian, the dominant language of the opera at the time. A major work is often called an "opus magnum" (Latin word order) or "magnum opus" (English word order). For a minor work, use the diminutive, "opuscule."

Suggested usage: Today's word is an erudite synonym for "work," so use it seriously only in an intellectually charged context, "Brendan's latest opus contains a modicum of verisimilitude conveyed with fatuous periphrasis." Of course, if you are not being serious, anything goes, "Winnie has a growing heap of unpublished opera." Don't forget the diminutive! "Actually, I think she did publish an opuscule or two in her youth."

Etymology: Italian opera "work" from Latin opus, opera (plural) "work, service." The same root is found in "operate," but also in "copious," "copy;" and "cornucopia" from Latin copia "profusion, plenty" based on the prefixed form *co-op-. (Gratitude today is owed Shan Crockett for submitting such a learned term for our daily opuscle on words).