Not able to be treated by surgical operation, especially regarding medical conditions. Not able to be operated or function properly.
From Latin prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' plus 'operable', from Latin 'operari' meaning 'to work'. The medical sense developed in the early 20th century as surgical techniques advanced and doctors needed precise terminology for treatment options.
The word 'inoperable' in medical contexts doesn't necessarily mean hopeless - it often means that surgery isn't the best treatment option, with radiation, chemotherapy, or other therapies potentially being more effective. In engineering, 'inoperable' equipment often just needs the right expertise or parts to function again.
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