Operate \Op"er*ate\, v. 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. ["u]ben to exercise, OHG. uoben, Icel. ?fa. Cf. Inure, Maneuver, Ure.]

1. To perform a work or labor; to exert power or strengh, 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]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)