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operativity

 - 4 dictionary results

op⋅er⋅a⋅tive

  [op-er-uh-tiv, op-ruh-tiv, op-uh-rey-tiv]
Use operativity in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person engaged, employed, or skilled in some branch of work, esp. productive or industrial work; worker.
2. a detective.
3. a secret agent; spy.
–adjective
4. operating, or exerting force, power, or influence.
5. having force; being in effect or operation: laws operative in this city.
6. effective or efficacious.
7. engaged in, concerned with, or pertaining to work or productive activity.
8. significant; key: The operative word in that sentence is “sometimes.”
9. Medicine/Medical. concerned with, involving, or pertaining to surgical operations.
Origin:
1590–1600; < MF operatif < L operāt(us) (see operate ) + MF -if -ive

Related forms:
op⋅er⋅a⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
op⋅er⋅a⋅tive⋅ness, op⋅er⋅a⋅tiv⋅i⋅ty  [op-er-uh-tiv-i-tee] , noun

Synonyms:
1. workman, factory hand. 2. investigator, agent. 6. effectual, serviceable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

operative  (adj.)
1598, "producing the intended effect," from L.L. operativus "creative, formative," from operatus, pp. of operari (see operation). Weakened sense of "significant, important" is from 1955. The noun meaning "worker, operator" is from 1809; sense of "secret agent, spy" is first attested 1930, probably from its use by the Pinkerton Detective Agency as a title for their private detectives (1905).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: op·er·a·tive
Pronunciation: 'äp-(&-)r&t-iv, 'äp-&-"rAt-
Function: adjective
: of, relating to,involving, or resulting from an operation <operative surgery> <operative dentistry> operative death—Lancet>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

operative op·er·a·tive (ŏp'ər-ə-tĭv, -ə-rā'tĭv, ŏp'rə-)
adj.

  1. Of, relating to, or resulting from a surgical operation.

  2. Functioning effectively; efficient.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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