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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Operate \Op"er*ate\, verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Operated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Operating}.] [L. operatus, p. p. of operari to work, fr. opus, operis, work, labor; akin to Skr. apas, and also to G. ["u]ben to exercise, OHG. uoben, Icel. [ae]fa. Cf. {Inure}, {Maneuver}, {Ure}.]
1. To perform a work or labor; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.
2. To produce an appropriate physical effect; to issue in the result designed by nature; especially (Med.), to take appropriate effect on the human system.
3. To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence.
The virtues of private persons operate but on a few. --Atterbury.
A plain, convincing reason operates on the mind both of a learned and ignorant hearer as long as they live. --Swift.
4. (Surg.) To perform some manual act upon a human body in a methodical manner, and usually with instruments, with a view to restore soundness or health, as in amputation, lithotomy, etc.
5. To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits. [Brokers' Cant]
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |