operative English · revision 15433

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late 15th century|origins=la opus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɒpəɹətɪv/, /ˈɒpɹətɪv/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɑpəɹətɪv/, /ˈɑpɹətɪv/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|opératif]] and directly [[la-med|operātīvus|t=creative, formative]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from the past participle stem of [[la|operor|t=to work]] (see [[operation]] and [[operate]]),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|opus|t=work]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Active, working: the late 15th century in Etymonline, the 15th century in Merriam-Webster.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Producing the intended effect is from the 1590s (1598 in the OED),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and concerned with manual or practical work from 1624.^(OED 1989) Relating to surgical operations is from 1783.^(OED 1989) Of words, containing the key point, as ''the operative word'', is from 1926.^(OED 1989) The noun, a worker or artisan, is from 1809,^(Etymonline) and a secret agent from 1930, probably from the Pinkerton agency's use of it for its private detectives (1905).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 15th century – active, working.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1598 – effective.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1783 – of surgery.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1809 – a worker (noun).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930 – a secret agent.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # In force or in operation; functioning.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Most important or significant: ''the operative word''.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+ # Relating to surgical [[operation|alt=operations]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A skilled worker, especially in industry.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A secret agent or [[spy]]; a private detective.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[operatively]]

+ * [[operativeness]]

+ * [[cooperative]]

+ * [[interoperative]]

+ * [[perioperative]]

+ * [[unoperative]]

+ * [[preoperative]]

+ * [[postoperative]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[operand]]

+ * [[operant]]

+ * [[operate]]

+ * [[operation]]

+ * [[operational]]

+ * [[operator]]

+ * [[opera]]

+ * [[opus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}