phrase
Latin
Magnum Opus
/หmรฆษกnษm หoสpษs/
lit. โgreat workโ
An artist's or thinker's defining masterwork โ the thing they'll be remembered for.
Origin
Originally a term in alchemy for the supposed great work of transmuting base metal into gold and producing the philosopher's stone. By the 18th century the phrase had migrated into literary and musical criticism to mean an artist's crowning achievement.
Modern usage
Used reverently for a finished masterwork and ironically for any oversized personal project. 'My weekend lasagna is a magnum opus.'
Tags
masterwork
achievement