Operose \Op"er*ose`\ a. [L. operosus, fr. opera pains, labor, opus, operis, work, labor.] Wrought with labor; requiring labor; hence, tedious; wearisome. ``Operose proceeding.'' --Burke. ``A very operose calculation.'' --De Quincey. -- {Op"er*ose`ly}, adv. -- {Op"er*ose`ness}, n.
operoseness n : the quality of requiring extended effort [syn: {laboriousness}, {toilsomeness}]