Operative vs Effectual - What's the difference?
operative | effectual |
Effectual or important.
Functional, in working order.
Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
* South
Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.
An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
A spy, secret agent, or detective.
A participant of an operation.
Producing the intended result; entirely adequate.
{{quote-Fanny Hill, part=3
, Redoubling, then, the active energy of his thrusts, favoured by the fervid appetite of my motions, the soft oiled wards can no longer stand so effectual a picklock, but yield, and open him an entrance.}}
As adjectives the difference between operative and effectual
is that operative is effectual or important while effectual is producing the intended result; entirely adequate.As a noun operative
is an employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.operative
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- He's usually in a good mood — the operative word there being "usually". Today was a disaster.
- an operative motive
- It holds in all operative principles.
- an operative dose, rule, or penalty
- operative surgery