记忆方法
最初，意大利人用短语opera in musica（works in music，音乐作品）来表示歌剧，后来缩写为单词opera。opera是拉丁语opus（等于英语中的work）的复数形式，原意是“作品”或“艺术作品”的意思。
表示“操作，手术”的英语单词operate与opera拼写接近，因为它也是源自拉丁语opus（work，操作）。
双解例句
小知识
An opera is a theatrical piece that tells a story totally through the music. It consists of recitatives which provide the narrative plot line and elaborate chorus singing, along with duets and arias, which are the parts we most remember.
We get the word opera from the Latin and, later, from the Italian, a noun formed from the word operari, “to work.” The style evolved in Italy around 1600, and was initially unrealistic, mainly a chance for soloists to show off. In the mid-18th Century the focus shifted to both strong story and exquisite singing. Emotion is an important quality, a trait carried over to “soap operas” which have no singing but plenty of fake tears.
实用短语
常用短语
单词用法
performance表演
play玩
theatricals戏剧
entertainment娱乐
show证明
opera house歌剧院
beijing opera n.京剧
peking opera中国京剧
soap opera肥皂剧（以家庭问题为题材的广播或电视连续剧）
词根词缀
词根: oper
=work,表示”工作”
adj.
operable 可操作的,能做手术的oper工作+able能……的→能工作[操作,手术]的
operational 操作的, 运作的operation操作+al……的→adj.操作的, 运作的
operose [古]费力的,困难的,辛勤的oper工作+ose多……的→多工作的
n.
cooperation 合作co共同+operation操作→共同操作→合作
opera 歌剧oper工作+a→通过工作[创作]而来
operation 运转,开动,操作,手术,运算,经营operate[v.操作,运转,开动,起作用,动手术]+ion表名词→n.运转,开动,操作,手术,运算,经营
operator 操作员, 工作者operate操作+or人→operator操作员
operetta 小歌剧oper=opera[n.歌剧]+etta=ette小→小歌剧
v.
cooperate [with]合作,协作,相配合co共同+operate操作→共同工作
operate 操作,运转,开动,起作用,动手术oper工作+ate表动词→工作起来