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Webster 1913 Edition

Operate

Op′er-ate

,
Verb.
I.
[
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.
üben
to exercise, OHG.
uoben
, Icel.
æfa
. 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]

Op′er-ate

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To produce, as an effect; to cause.
The same cause would
operate
a diminution of the value of stock.
A. Hamilton.
2.
To put into, or to continue in, operation or activity; to work;
as, to
operate
a machine
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Operate

OP'ERATE

,
Verb.
I.
[L. operor; Heb. signifies to be strong, to prevail.]
1.
To act; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical. External bodies operate on animals by means of perception. Sound operates upon the auditory nerves through the medium of air. Medicines operate on the body by increasing or diminishing organic action.
2.
To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence. Motives operate on the mind in determining the judgment. Examples operate in producing imitation.
The virtues of private persons operate but on a few -
A plain convincing reason operates on the mind both of a learned and an ignorant hearer as long as he lives.
3.
In surgery, to perform some manual act in a methodical manner upon a human body, and usually with instruments, with a view to restore soundness or health; as in amputation, lithotomy and the like.
4.
To act; to have agency; to produce any effect.

OP'ERATE

,
Verb.
T.
To effect; to produce by agency.
The same cause would operate a diminution of the value of stock -
[This use is not frequent, and can hardly be said to be well authorized.]

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