ŏpĭfex, ĭcis, comm. [opus-facio], one who does a work.
I Lit., a worker , maker , framer , fabricator (class.; cf.: faber, artifex. operarius).
A In gen.: opifex aedificatorque mundi deus, Cic. N. D. 1, 8, 18: rerum or aeternus, Col. 3, 10, 10; cf.: opifex natura, Plin. 31, 1, 1, § 1: calor, Lact. 2, 9, 22: sylvestres apes, Varr. R. R. 3, 16.—
B In partic., a workman , mechanic , artist , artisan , etc.: opifices omnes in sordidā arte versantur, Cic. Off. 1, 42, 150; cf. id. N. D. 2, 60, 150; id. Fl. 8, 18; id. Rep. 1, 22, 35: opifices atque servitia, Sall. C. 50, 1: hoc (instrumento) ego non artem credo egere, sed artificem, Quint. 2, 21, 24.—
II Trop.: verborum, Cic. Tusc. 5, 12, 34: dicens esse rhetoricen persuadendi opificem, id est πειθοῦς δημιουργόν, Quint. 2, 15, 4.— Poet. with inf.: mire opifex ... marem strepitum fidis intendisse Latinae, Pers. 6, 3.