"producing the intended effect," early 15c., from Old French operatif (14c.) or directly from Late Latin operativus "creative, formative," from operat-, past participle stem of operari (see operation). Weakened sense of "significant, important" is from 1955.
operative (n.)
"worker, operator," 1809, from operative (adj.); 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).
雙語例句
1. Her aggressive moods alternated with gentle or more co-operative states.
她情緒多變，時(shí)而咄咄逼人，時(shí)而又顯得溫柔平和或樂于合作。
來自柯林斯例句
2. The Youth Training Scheme was operative by the end of 1983.
青年培訓(xùn)計(jì)劃一直持續(xù)到1983年底。
來自柯林斯例句
3. They decided a housing co-operative was the way to regenerate Ormiston Crescent.