operose

comparative more operose · superlative most operose

1. archaicOf a person: busy, industrious, or painstaking.First known use 16th c.

   When this operose and hard-working student descended from his closet, and gained a sort of tacit leave from his tutor to join in the circle of us gay and high-spirited fellows, the part he played was no more advantageous to him, than his former exhibition had been among the learned.

   1805, William Godwin, chapter V, in Fleetwood, London: Richard Bentley, published 1853, page 42

2. archaicMade with or requiring a lot of labour; painstaking, laborious.First known use 17th c.

   Povver and riches appear then to be, vvhat they are, enormous and operoſe machines contrived to produce a fevv trifling conveniencies to the body, […]

   1759, Adam Smith, “Of the Beauty which the Appearance of Utility Bestows upon All the Productions of Art, and of the Extensive Influence of this Species of Beauty”, in The Theory of Moral Sentiments, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […]; Edinburgh: A[lexander] Kincaid and J. Bell, →OCLC, part III (Of the Foundation of Our Judgments Concerning Our Own Sentiments and Conduct, and of the Sense of Duty), page 320

3. archaicTedious, wearisome.

   when there was so great reason to make it common, since the square letters are less operose, more expedite and facile, then the Samaritan, which is, when time serves, used as a plea for their great Antiquity.

   1662, Edward Stillingfleet, “The Truth of Scripture-History Asserted”, in Origines Sacrae, Or, A Rational Account of the Grounds of Christian Faith, as to the Truth and Divine Authority of the Scriptures, and Matters Therein Contained, 3rd edition, London: R. W. for Henry Mortlock, published 1666, page 103