different between operative vs serviceable

English

Etymology

From Middle French operatif (modern French opératif).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??p???t?v/, (colloquial) /??p??t?v/

Adjective

operative (comparative more operative, superlative most operative)

1. Effectual or important.

   He's usually in a good mood — the operative word there being "usually". Today was a disaster.

2. Functional, in working order.
3. Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.

   an operative motive

   • It holds in all operative principles.

4. Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.

   an operative dose, rule, or penalty

5. Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations. [from 18th c.]

   operative surgery

Derived terms

• operatively
• operativeness
• operative word
• operativity
• preoperative, postoperative, inoperative, nonoperative

Related terms

• operand
• operant
• operate
• operation
• operational
• operator

Translations

Noun

operative (plural operatives)

1. An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
2. A spy, secret agent, or detective.
3. A participant in an operation.

Translations

References

• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928) , “Operative”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VII (O–P), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 145, column 2.

Anagrams

• evaporite

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

operative

1. inflection of operativ:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian

Adjective

operative

1. feminine plural of operativo

Anagrams

• operatevi

Latin

Adjective

oper?t?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of oper?t?vus

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

operative

1. inflection of operativ:
   1. definite singular
   2. plural

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

operative

1. inflection of operativ:
   1. definite singular
   2. plural

Swedish

Adjective

operative

1. absolute definite natural masculine form of operativ.

English

Etymology

From Middle English servisable, from Old French servisable, from servise; surface analysis service +? -able.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?s?v?s?bl?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?s??v?s?bl?/

Adjective

serviceable (comparative more serviceable, superlative most serviceable)

1. Easy to service.
2. Repairable instead of disposable.
3. In condition for use; usable, functional.
   • 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

     I employed myself in making, as well as I could, a great many baskets, both to carry earth or to carry or lay up anything, as I had occasion; and though I did not finish them very handsomely, yet I made them sufficiently serviceable for my purpose...

   • There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock-paper on the walls.

Synonyms

• useful
• helpful

Translations

Anagrams

• receivables