Operate

v. i. [imp. & p. p. OPERATED; p. pr. & vb. n. OPERATING.] [Lat. operari, operatus, from opus, opera, work, labor; It. operare, Sp. oprar, Fr. opérer.]

1. To perform a work or labor; to act; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical.
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 an ignorant hearer as long as he lives. Swift. 4. (Surg.) To perform some manual act in a methodical manner upon a human body, and usually with instruments, with a view to restore soundness or health, as in amputation, lithotomy, and the like.