ŏpĕror (collat. form ŏpĕro, Cassiod. Hist. Eccl. 10, 33; Commod. 30, 14), ātus, 1, v. dep. n. [opus], to work, labor, toil, take pains; to be busied (not in Cic. or Caes.).— Constr. absol. or with dat.
I Lit.
A In gen.
α Absol. : seniores (apes) intus operantur, Plin. 11, 10, 10, § 21: servi, qui operari in agro consueverunt, Dig. 28, 5, 35. —
β With dat., to bestow pains upon a thing; to devote one's self to , be engaged in or occupied with a thing (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose): reipublicae, Liv. 4, 60, 2: conubiis arvisque novis operari, Verg. A. 3, 136: ornandis capillis, Ov. Am. 2, 7, 23: in cute curandā, Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 29: textis Minervae, Tib 2, 1, 65: materiis caedendis, Tac. H. 5, 20: studiis litterarum, id. A. 3, 43: scholae, Quint. 10, 3, 13; Suet. Claud. 19: auditioni in scholis, Plin. 26, 2, 6, § 11; Val. Max. 8, 7, 4 ext. : rebus domesticis, Col. 12, 4, 3: reipublicae, Dig. 48, 5, 15.—
B In partic., in relig. lang., to serve the gods , perform sacred rites , to honor or celebrate by sacrifices (for which: operam dare rebus divinis, Cic. Leg. 2, 11, 26): operari est deos religiose et cum summā veneratione sacrificiis litare, Non. 523, 9; Pompon. ap. Non. 523, 13: illum Dianae sanctum diem, Afran. ib. 14: sacra refer Cereri laetis operatus (= sacrificans) in herbis, Verg. G. 1, 339; cf.: Cynthia jam noctes est operata decem, Prop. 2, 33, 2 (3, 31, 2); and: mulier justis operata sacris, Hor. C. 3, 14, 6: sacris, Liv. 1, 31, 8: superstitionibus, id. 10, 39, 2: viditque se operatum, et sanguine sacro respersa praetexta, Tac. A. 2, 14. Vesta, fave: tibi nunc operata resolvimus ora, the mouth devoted to thee , Ov. F. 6, 249: janua matutinis operatur festa lucernis, Juv. 12, 92.—
II Transf.
1 To work , have effect , be effectual , to be active , to operate (post-class.): nihil denique praetermitteret, quod ad crudelitatem videretur operari, to be effectual , Capitol. Maxim. 13: ad sui dispendium, to avail , Cod. Just. 5, 12, 7: venenum operatur, operates , Lampr. Commod. 17.—
2 Act. (eccl. Lat.)
α To work , carry into effect , administer : justi tiam, Lact. 6, 12, 38; 6, 13, 4; 6, 24, 4: scelus, Vulg. Lev. 20, 12: miracula, Ambros. in Luc. 4, § 47.—
β To work , produce by working , cause : in vobis sollicitudinem, Vulg. 2 Cor. 7, 11: mortem, id. ib. 7, 10: gloriae pondus, id. ib. 4, 17: opera, id. Joan. 9, 4.— Hence,
A ŏpĕrans , antis, P. a., active , efficient , effectual (post-Aug.): operantes apes spectare, Plin. 21, 14, 47, § 80.— Comp. : bonitas operantior, Tert. adv. Marc. 2, 4.— Neutr. adv. : aridas vaporationes operantius mederi quam cataplasmata, Cael. Aur. Acut. 3, 8, 89.— Sup. : clysteres adhibere operantissimos, Cael. Aur. Acut. 2, 39.—
B ŏpĕrātus , a, um, P. a.
1 Pass. , performed , effected (eccl. Lat.): tot charismata perperam operata, Tert. Praescr. 29.—
2 Act. , efficacious , effective : fallaciae vis operatior, Tert. Anim. 57.