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modus operandi

a person's or organization's particular method of operating

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Where does the word "modus operandi" come from? It comes from Latin modus operandi, and was adopted directly into English (1650s).

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Where does the word "modus operandi" come from? It comes from Latin modus operandi, and was adopted directly into English (1650s).

Modus operandi’s story begins in Latin: modus operandi meant “manner of operating.” Manner of operating, from modus (manner) and operandi (of working). It reached English by 1650s as modus operandi. Latin 'method of operating'; police shorten it to 'MO'. Today, modus operandi means a person's or organization's particular method of operating.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient modus operandi "manner of operating", manner of operating, from modus (manner) and operandi (of working).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1650s modus operandi "a particular way of doing something", Latin 'method of operating'; police shorten it to 'MO'.

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