Enter a clue or pattern or both:

The Clue

Sleuth (9 letter answer)

The Answer

OPERATIVE

Tags


Notes

The answer OPERATIVE is rarely seen, appearing only about once every 2400 puzzles.

Related Clues

Key
Private eye
In working order

Definition

OPERATIVE as a noun:

1. (secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence agent, operative) = a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
2. (private detective, PI, private eye, private investigator, operative, shamus, sherlock) = someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information

OPERATIVE as an adjective:

1. being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system"
2. of or relating to a surgical operation; "operative surgery"
3. (surgical, operative) = relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry"
4. (operative, key) = effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"
5. (running, operative, functional, working) = (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes"