opera
UK[ˈɒp(ə)rə]US[ˈɑːp(ə)rə]
n
A dramatic work in which all or most of the text is sung to orchestral accompaniment, typically involving elaborate costumes and scenery.
n
A building or organization for the performance of such works.
Morpheme Breakdown
oper
a
oper
work
a
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'opera' is a direct borrowing from Italian, where it originally meant 'work, labor, composition'. The Italian term itself is a shortened form of the phrase 'opera in musica', meaning 'work in music'. It derives from the Latin noun 'opus' (genitive 'operis'), meaning 'work', which traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root op-, meaning 'to work, produce in abundance'. The semantic journey is clear: from the general concept of 'work' in Latin, it became specialized in Italian to refer to a musical composition, and finally, in English, to the specific art form of a dramatic sung performance.
Analysis
Structure: oper (work) + a (noun suffix)
'oper' is from Latin 'opus, oper-', meaning 'work'. The suffix '-a' is a Latin feminine singular ending used to form nouns.
Examples
She has a season ticket for the opera.
Verdi's opera 'La Traviata' is a timeless classic.
The new opera house will open next year.