operate

/ˈä-pə-ˌrāt/

borrowed from Late Latin operātus, past participle of operārī "to work, be efficacious, effect, produce," going back to Latin, "to busy oneself, be at work," probably back-formation from operātus "busy, engaged, occupied with religious observances," from opera "activity, effort" + -ātus

verb

  1. to perform a function : exert power or influence

  2. to produce an appropriate effect

  3. to perform an operation or a series of operations

factors operating against our success