Crossword clues for magnum opus
The Collaborative International Dictionary
magnum opus \mag"num o"pus\ (m[a^]g"n[u^]m [=o]"p[u^]s), n.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. 1 A great or important work of literature, music or art, a masterpiece. 2 The best, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an author or artist, representing their major life effort.
WordNet
n. a great work of art or literature
Wikipedia
Magnum Opus is the eighth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 17 October 1995 (see release history). The album reached No. 11 and 17 on the Finnish and Swedish albums chart respectively.
Magnum opus, the Latin for "great work", is the masterpiece, the greatest work of a writer, artist, or composer.
Magnum opus may refer to:
Magnum Opus was the only album released by Top Quality. The album was released on November 14, 1993 though RCA Records. Parrish "PMD" Smith of EPMD served as the album's executive producer.
Though it had input from PMD, the album found nowhere near the amount of success that EPMD and members of their Hit Squad had attained. Magnum Opus only made it to 95 on the Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and its two singles, "I Can't Hear You" and "What", failed to appear on any Billboard charts. After the album's failure, Top Quality was dropped from the label.
The Great Work ( Latin: Magnum opus) is an alchemical term for the process of working with the prima materia to create the philosopher's stone. It has been used to describe personal and spiritual transmutation in the Hermetic tradition, attached to laboratory processes and chemical color changes, used as a model for the individuation process, and as a device in art and literature. The magnum opus has been carried forward in new age and neo-hermetic movements which sometimes attached new symbolism and significance to the processes. It originally had four stages:
- nigredo, a blackening or melanosis
- albedo, a whitening or leucosis
- citrinitas, a yellowing or xanthosis
- rubedo, a reddening, purpling, or iosis
The origin of these four phases can be traced at least as far back as the first century. Zosimus of Panopolis wrote that it was known to Maria the Jewess. After the 15th century, many writers tended to compress citrinitas into rubedo and consider only three stages. Other color stages are sometimes mentioned, most notably the cauda pavonis (peacock's tail) in which an array of colors appear.
The magnum opus had a variety of alchemical symbols attached to it. Birds like the raven, swan, and phoenix could be used to represent the progression through the colors. Similar color changes could be seen in the laboratory, where for example, the blackness of rotting, burnt, or fermenting matter would be associated with nigredo.
Usage examples of "magnum opus".
He couldnt understand the pain of watching your most beautiful and singular piece of art die at your own hands, your magnum opus, the one thing all your life led up to, simply crumble away like that.
These basked in the limelight and hastened to publish their own researches as well as their critiques of Denis's magnum opus.
The usual biodroid cellar accommodations weren't good enough for Manwright's magnum opus.
They'd been too busy, during those last, hectic days, with the business of their magnum opus: the carpet that was soon to conceal the Fugue from sight for an age.
He did not want to be called a magnum opus as though he were a finale of sorts.
Thereby he being brought to the end of his resources, he bethought himself to pray unto the Great Gods of Heaven that they would bestow favour upon him -- for, even as did Job, he cursed not God at all -- that he might make a new sacrifice unto the Magnum Opus.