operabilis

Forms

operābilis (neuter operābile); third-declension two-termination adjective; comparative operābilior^[1][2]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin operor (“to work”) + -bilis.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first known use is in the Latin translation of Irenaeus, which Köbler dates to the 4th century with a question mark:^[1] the comparative operabilior there means more effective, and Leumann took it in an instrumental sense.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In Late and Christian Latin it meant active or effective: Priscillian speaks of the effective order of nature, and the Latin Life of Antony calls faith operabilis, translating Greek ἐνεργής (energḗs).^[2]

In Thomas Aquinas it is a synonym of factibilis and agibilis, and every practical science deals with things that human beings can do.^[4] British scholastics such as Duns Scotus set the things to be done against those of speculation, and British records use it of working days.^[5] English operable (1640s) is from operate or from Late Latin operabilis.^[3]

Timeline

• 4th century AD – The Latin translation of Irenaeus, which Köbler dates with a question mark, has the comparative in the sense “more effective”.^[2][1]
• c. 350–384 AD – Priscillian uses it of the effective order of nature.^[2][1]
• 360 AD – The Latin Life of Antony calls faith effective.^[2][1]
• 1226 – A British record uses it of working days.^[5]
• 1240–1292 – Roger Bacon speaks of things that can be done by work.^[5]
• 1259–1265 – Thomas Aquinas, in the Summa contra Gentiles, uses it of what can be done by human action.^[4]
• 1640s – English operable appears, from operate or from the Late Latin word.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Late Latin) Effective, active, working.^[2][1]
2. (Medieval Latin, philosophy) That can be done or brought about by action, practicable; as a neuter noun, a thing to be done, as opposed to one of speculation.^[4][5]
3. (Medieval Latin) Of a day or week: during which work is allowed or required, working.^[5]

Related words

• opus
• opera

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
5. ^ a b c d e Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press