ŏpĕrārĭus, a, um, adj. [opera],
I of or belonging to labor (class.): homo, Cic. Att. 7, 2, 8: pecus, working-cattle , Col. 6, 2, 15: vinum, for working-men , Plin. 14, 10, 12, § 86.—
II Subst.
A ŏpĕrārĭus , ii, m., a laborer , workman , operative : habere oportet operarios quinque, Cato R. R. 10, 1: operarius rusticus, the peasant as a day-laborer , Edict. Diocl. 7, 1; cf.: operarius agrarius, Vulg. Ecclus. 37, 13: quos singulos sicut operarios barbarosque contemnas, Cic. Tusc. 5, 36, 104: quidam operarii linguā celeri et exercitatā, fluent talkers , bad orators , id. de Or. 1, 18, 83: operarium nobis quendam oratorem facis, underworkman , id. ib. 1, 62, 263: si quid actum erit, quod isti operarii minus commode persequi possent, i. e. scribes , secretaries , id. Fam. 8, 1, 2.—
B ŏpĕrārĭa , ae, f., a work-woman , in a comic lusus verbb., Plaut. Bacch. 1, 1, 41.