magnum opus

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 16, 2021 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>magnum opus</strong> &#149; \MAG-num-OH-pus\&nbsp; &#149; <em>noun</em><br /> <p><strong>:</strong> a great work; <em>especially</em> <strong>:</strong> the greatest achievement of an artist or writer</p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a number of popular novels and stories during his lifetime, but his <em>magnum opus</em> is <em>The Great Gatsby</em>, the story of an eccentric millionaire.</p> <p>"Natalie Johns's documentary 'Max Richter's Sleep' (2019) showcases the <em>magnum opus</em> of the title, an eight-and-a-half hour, 204 movement Neo-Classical piece performed by soprano, synthesizers, and string ensemble. It is performed for supine audiences who are encouraged to doze off during the proceedings." — <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/24/arts/wojnarowicz-max-richters-sleep-two-artists-take-world-doing-so-very-different-ways/">Peter Keough, <em>The Boston Globe</em>, 24 Mar. 2021</a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>You may recognize <em>magnum</em> (meaning "great") as a Latin word that shows up in altered forms in several English words, and perhaps you can also come up with a few words that are related to <em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opus">opus</a></em> ("work"). <em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnitude">Magnitude</a></em>, <em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnanimous">magnanimous</a></em>, <em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opulent">opulent</a></em>, and <em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/operate">operate</a></em> are some obvious relations of the two. <em>Magnum opus</em>, which entered English in the 18th century, retains the original Latin spelling and the literal meaning "great work." Althoug