_studiose (diligenter, enixe, sedulo, maxime) dare operam, ut..._—to
take great pains in order to...
_egregiam operam_ (_multum, plus_ etc. _operae_) _dare alicui rei_—to
expend great labour on a thing.
_operam alicui rei tribuere, in aliquid conferre_—to expend great
labour on a thing.
_operam (laborem, curam) in_ or _ad aliquid impendere_—to expend great
labour on a thing.
_multum operae ac laboris consumere in aliqua re_—to exert oneself
very energetically in a matter.
_studium, industriam_ (not _diligentiam_) _collocare, ponere in aliqua
re_—to apply oneself zealously, diligently to a thing.
_incumbere in (ad) aliquid_—to be energetic about, throw one's heart
into a thing.
_opus_[1] _facere_ (De Senect. 7. 24)—to do work (especially
agricultural).
_opus aggredi_—to take a task in hand, engage upon it.
_ad opus faciendum accedere_—to take a task in hand, engage upon it.
_res est multi laboris et sudoris_—the matter involves much labour and
fatigue.
_desudare et elaborare in aliqua re_ (De Senect. 11. 38)—to exert
oneself very considerably in a matter.
_labori, operae non parcere_—to spare no pains.
_laborem non intermittere_—to work without intermission.
_nullum tempus a labore intermittere_—not to leave off work for an
instant.
_lucubrare_ (Liv. 1. 57)—to work by night, burn the midnight oil.
_inanem laborem suscipere_—to lose one's labour.
_operam (et oleum) perdere_ or _frustra consumere_—to lose one's labour.
_rem actam_ or simply _actum agere_ (proverb.)—to have all one's
trouble for nothing.
_labore supersedēre (itineris)_ (Fam. 4. 2. 4)—to spare oneself the
trouble of the voyage.
_patiens laboris_—capable of exertion.
_fugiens laboris_—lazy.
_operae pretium est_ (c. Inf.)—it is worth while.
_acti labores iucundi_ (proverb.)—rest after toil is sweet.
_contentionem adhibere_—to exert oneself.
_omnes nervos_[2] _in aliqua re contendere_—to strain every nerve, do
one's utmost in a matter.
_omnibus viribus_or _nervis contendere, ut_—to strain every nerve, do
one's utmost in a matter.
_omni ope atque opera_ or _omni virium contentione eniti, ut_—to
strain every nerve, do one's utmost in a matter.
_contendere et laborare, ut_—to strain every nerve, do one's utmost in
a matter.
_pro viribus eniti et laborare, ut_—to strain every nerve, do one's
utmost in a matter.
[1] _opus_ always means the concrete work on which one is engaged;
_labor_ is the trouble, fatigue, resulting from effort; _opera_ is the
voluntary effort, the trouble spent on an object. Thus _laborare_ =
not simply to work, but to work energetically, with exertion and
consequent fatigue; _operari_, to be busy with a thing. Terence thus
distinguishes _opus_ and _opera_: _quod in opere faciundo operae
consumis tuae_. Cf. Verg. Aen. 1. 455 _operumque laborem miratur_ =
the trouble with such huge works must have cost.
[2] _nervi_ properly = sinews, muscles, not nerves the existence of
which was unknown to the ancients. Metaphorically _nervi_ denotes not
only strength in general but also specially—(1) vital power,
elasticity, e.g. _omnes nervos virtutis elidere_ (Tusc. 2. 11. 27),
_incīdere_, to paralyse the strength of virtue; (2) motive power,
mainspring, essence, of a thing, e.g. _vectigalia nervi rei publicae
sunt_ (Imp. Pomp. 7. 17), _nervi belli pecunia_ (Phil. 5. 2. 15).