inoperable
UK[ɪnˈɒp(ə)rəb(ə)l]US[ɪnˈɑːp(ə)rəb(ə)l]
adj
(of a condition or illness) not able to be cured or treated by a surgical operation.
adj
(of a plan, system, or machine) not able to be used or made to work.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
oper
able
in
not
oper
work
able
capable of
Etymology
the word 'inoperable' is a modern english formation built from classical latin components. the negative prefix 'in-' is combined with the root 'oper-', derived from the latin verb 'operari', which means 'to work, to labor'. this root is also the source of words like 'operate' and 'operation'. the suffix '-able', of latin origin via old french, signifies 'capable of'. therefore, the literal construction means 'not capable of being worked upon'. in medical terminology, this evolved to specifically describe a tumor or condition that cannot be successfully treated by surgery. the sense later broadened to describe any system or plan that is non-functional or impractical.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + oper (work) + able (capable of)
in- (latin origin, a prefix meaning 'not'); oper- (latin origin, from 'operari' meaning 'to work'); -able (latin origin, via old french, a suffix meaning 'capable of, fit for').
Examples
the tumor was deemed inoperable due to its location near a major artery.
after the flood, the old generator was completely inoperable.
the proposed security protocol was so complex it was practically inoperable.