operation English · revision 2849

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1386|origins=la opus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌɒp.ərˈeɪ.ʃən/, US /ˌɑː.pəˈreɪ.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|operacioun]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|operacion|t=operation, working, proceedings]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|operātiō|t=a working, operation]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) a noun of action from the past participle of [[m|la|operor|t=I work, labor]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) the source of [[operate]], from opera “work, effort”, related to [[m|la|opus|t=a work]].^(Etymonline) Etymonline takes it to [[ine-pro|*h₃ep-|alt=*op-|t=to work, produce in abundance]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Action, performance, work: about 1386,^(OED 1989) the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) also the performance of some science or art.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Working, the exercise of force or influence, is from 1390,^(OED 1989) and the power to produce an effect from 1509.^(OED 1989) Johnson (1755) defined it first as “agency; production of effects; influence”.^(Johnson 1755) The surgical sense, an act performed on a patient's body, usually with instruments, is first attested in the 1590s, 1597 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The military sense, a planned series of movements, is by 1749.^(Etymonline) A business transaction, especially a speculative one, is from 1832,^(OED 1989) and ''in operation'', “working”, from 1818.^(OED 1989) In mathematics an operation is a process such as addition.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1386 – action, performance.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1390 – working, agency.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1509 – power to produce effects.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1597 – a surgical operation.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1749 – a military operation.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1818 – ''in operation''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1832 – a business transaction.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act or process of working or functioning: ''the operation of a machine''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The state of being in effect: ''the law came into operation''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A procedure in which a [[surgeon]] cuts into the body to repair or remove something.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A planned military or police action.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A business or organization; an enterprise.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' A process such as [[addition]] or multiplication.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[misoperation]]

+ * [[operationism]]

+ * [[preoperation]]

+ * [[suboperation]]

+ * [[reoperation]]

+ * [[binary operation]]

+ * [[unary operation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[opera]]

+ * [[operable]]

+ * [[operand]]

+ * [[operant]]

+ * [[operate]]

+ * [[operational]]

+ * [[operative]]

+ * [[operator]]

+ * [[opus]]

+ * [[cooperation]]

+ * [[office]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}