magnum opus

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

From Latin magnum opus (“great work”).

Pronunciation

• (Latin) IPA: /ˌmaŋnũː ˈopus/, SAMPA: /%maNnu~: "opus/
• (RP) enPR: măg'nəm ōʹpəs, IPA: /ˌmæɡnəm ˈəʊpəs/, SAMPA: /%m{gn@m "@Up@s/
• (US) enPR: măg'nəm ōʹpəs, IPA: /ˌmæɡnəm ˈɔʊpəs/, SAMPA: /%m{gn@m "OUp@s/

Noun

magnum opus (plural magna opera or magnum opuses or magnum opi)

1. A great work of literature or art, a masterpiece.
2. The best, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an author or artist, representing his major life effort.

Usage notes

Examples of magna opera: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes; In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust and Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci.

The Latin plural magna opera may be preferred in some academic and literary contexts, in popular usage the English-style plural magnum opuses is more common. The plural magnum opi, although rare and likely regarded as incorrect in formal works, does see some use.

Synonyms

• masterpiece
• seminal work

Translations

masterpiece

Danish: mesterværk (da) n. Finnish: mestariteos (fi), suurteos (fi)

Manx: ard-obbyr (gv) f. Spanish: obra maestra (es) f.

the greatest work of an author or artist

Finnish: pääteos (fi)