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. [1913 Webster]