English → Latin
“operative” in Latin
efficāxefficacious, effectual, powerful, efficientpossumbe able to, can, may; in the 3rd person singular (pote est): it may be, it is possible; to have influence or efficacy, tvaleōto have strength, influence, power; to avail; to be well, healthy, sound; to be worth, be worthyexerceōto keep busy, keep at work, drive on; occupy, practise, employ, exercise (something in a form of action); to harass, woropifexSomeone who does work (especially creative or constructive); worker, maker, framer, fabricator, workman, mechanic, artif
The English word operative itself goes back to Latin operor, through operātīvus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
operative adj.
efficax; potens; valens: A law is operative, lex valet, or exercetur (is acted upon).
operative s.
opifex (general term, a handicraftsman): qui operas fabriles praebet (who works for a master; after Apul., Met., 9, p. 219, 6, sq.).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for operative?
- The usual Latin words for “operative” are efficāx, possum, valeō; also exerceō, opifex. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.