Opera

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɒp.ə.ɹə/

Definitions

1. A form of performing arts where vocalists and instrumentalists deliver a narrative, typically characterized by its rich musical composition and theatrical presentation
2. A specific type of musical drama that employs singers along with a full orchestra to create a comprehensive artistic expression often associated with grand storytelling
3. A staged dramatic work that integrates singing, instrumental music, and theatrical elements ; a piece of music written to be performed in this theatrical style

Etymology: The surprise with "opera" is that the Italian word it was borrowed from began as a plain plural. In Latin, "opera" was the plural of "opus," meaning "works" or "labours," and it carried that sense of effort and craftsmanship for centuries. When Italians began using "opera" in the late 1500s to mean a staged work combining drama, poetry and music, the word was still understood as "works," as in a collection of creative productions. The singular "opera" then came to name the whole form, so English speakers borrowed a word that had already shifted from a plural to a singular. Because "opus" and "opera" come from the same Latin root, English also has "opus," "oeuvre" and "ure" as doublets, which are words that entered English by different routes from one source. "Oeuvre" came through French, while "opus" was taken directly from Latin, so the family of "work" words shares a single ancestor despite arriving separately.

Synonyms: musical, theatrical performance