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[opere] (1341)
Cite this entry

[opere] (1341)

Cite this entry
opre,  oepre, 
(pl. oouprus)  
  FEW:  opera 7,363a Gdf: ∅ GdfC: ∅ TL: ∅ DEAF: ∅ DMF:  opère 2  TLF: ∅ OED: ∅ MED: ∅ DMLBS:  opera 2025b

The p- form (as opposed to the v of ovre1) is closer to the Latin etymon opera. It is a Latinism that is only attested in Anglo-Norman from the mid-fourteenth century onwards, and almost exclusively in formulaic phrases.

s.

1act, deed: 
( s.xvin; MS: s.xv1 )  L'autor dit quy vostre entente Mettere devez en ta juvente De toutz pecchez vous retrahere Et bonez oouprus user et faire (M.E. And goud werkys use and doo shal ȝe)  Fem2 100.16
2occupation(manual) work, task, labour: 
( 1347-59 )  En .xxxvj. barels de pych achaté as ditz escomers et tylater, pris .iiij. s. du piece, .vij. l. .iij. s. En .xxiiij. barils de tar achaté pur mesmne l'oepre, pris .iij. s. .ij. d. du piece, .lxxvj. s. En .xxiiij. gallons d'oyle achaté pur mesme le opre, pris .xij. d. du galon, .xxiiij. s.  Sandahl Sea iii 145
pur Deu et en opere de charité
lawfor God and by way of charity (a standard formula ending a legal petition): 
( 1397 )  pur Dieu et en oepre de charité  Ladbroke 339
( 1401-02; MS: s.xv1 )  pur Dieu et en eopre de charitee  Lett & Pet 392.40
( 1442 )  [...] et ceo pur Dieu, et in opre de charité  Rot Parl1 v 62
mettre en opere
lawto put into effect: 
( 1341 )  [...] par quei vous covient moustrer ascune certeine chose estre mys en oepre qe purreit estre ratifié  YBB 15 Ed III 133
( 1346 )  Nous avoms moustré la composicion estre mys en oepre  YBB 20.1 Ed III 183

[gdw]

See also:

operation  operer1  operer2  ovre1 
This is an AND2 Phase 4 (N-O/U-P-Q) entry. © 2013-17 The Anglo-Norman Dictionary. All rights reserved. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom.
opere